Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

Sierra Vista stomps Green Valley in first-round playoff win

LVSUN HSFB Media Day 2018 Top 10

Christopher DeVargas

Members of the Sierra Vista High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun’s high school football media day Tuesday July 31, 2018 at the Red Rock Resort and Casino. They include, top row, Bryan Lagrange, Cole Foss, Austin Schmit. Bottom row, Josiah Antolin, Tristin Jimenez and Jordan “Polo” Solomon.

It’s often hard to quantify just how much a team improves throughout the season.

It should be easier with Sierra Vista after Friday night. The Mountain Lions looked 35 points better than they did at the beginning of the season.

Sierra Vista defeated Green Valley 30-6 to open the playoffs, avenging a 26-21 loss from week 2.

“We played a lot better defensively than the first time we played them,” Sierra Vista coach John Foss said. “They got a couple big passes, but for the most part, we were able to stop their running game.”

The Mountain Lions were in control from the start, building an early 17-0 lead largely off of big special teams plays. Their first touchdown came after a blocked field goal by junior Cameron Murray, and their second was a long punt return by D’Andre Washington.

Green Valley scored before halftime, but Sierra Vista’s defense smothered it in the second half. On offense, the Mountain Lions relied heavily on their passing game with senior quarterback Jordan Solomon, who threw long touchdown passes to brother Jett Solomon and Tavaris Andrews.

It was a big win for the program, which hadn’t won a 4A playoff game in at least 10 years. Sierra Vista takes on perennial power Liberty next.

“They’re a very good team,” Foss said. “We’re going to do the best we can to prepare and then we’re going to scrap and we’re going to put our best foot forward and see what we can do.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.