Bishop Gorman continues to rise to national prominence, but Palo Verde and Liberty are peaking as well.
Bishop Gorman is 44-3 with quarterback Anu Solomon taking snaps the last three seasons. He's back again, and that makes our pick for the state's top team Bishop Gorman.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
16-1
Head coach: Tony Sanchez
Team previewThe Gaels, 70-5 over the last five seasons with four state crowns, are the class of Nevada and with third-year coach Sanchez they have established themselves as a perennial national power. The
No. 11 team in the Preseason Xcellent 25 returns 12 starters from last year’s powerhouse, including three-year starting quarterback
Anu Solomon, who has thrown for 7,264 career yards with 105 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions. He’s got three returning Division I college receivers to throw to and running back/safety
Nathan Starks (6-foot, 210 pounds) is one of the top juniors in the country. Top college prospects are everywhere, including BYU-bound defensive end
Isaiah Nacua, cornerback
Justin Sweet, receivers
Ryan Smith and
Keenan Smith and newcomer Quarterback/receiver
Randall Cunningham Jr., who is in the mold of his NFL-veteran father by the same name. Bishop Gorman leads the June, 2011 list of the
Top 10 Nevada football dynasties.
2. Palo Verde (Las Vegas) 2011 finish: 11-1
Head coach: Darwin Rost
Team previewIf not for Gorman, according to Las Vegas Sun reporter Ray Brewer, Palo Verde would have won the last six straight state titles instead of none. The Panthers have lost just two games the last two seasons, both to Gorman, and in Rost they feature arguably the state’s most respected coach.
Ryan Beaulieu (5-10, 170) is a game-breaker in all regards and defensive back
Lee Griggs (5-9, 180) is undersized but hits like a brick. Rost’s son
Parker Rost takes over at quarterback. Palo Verde has one leg up on Bishop Gorman: It tops the
Nevada Top 10 most consistent high school football programs list.
3. Liberty (Henderson)2011 finish: 11-2
Head coach: Rich Maraco
Team previewWatch out for the Patriots, who not only return eight starters – including standout running back
Niko Kapeli (5-11, 210), BYU-bound quarterback
Kaimana Nacua and tackle
Chris Noone (6-3, 255) – but a boatload of transfers. Always known for its brawn, Liberty might now have the breakaway speed to race over the proverbial hump. The Patriots also will benefit by bringing up players from an 8-0 JV team. Since Maraco arrived in 2009, Liberty is 30-8. The five years before that, the Patriots were 14-33. Check out the complete list of
Nevada Class of 2012 players who signed with Division 1 college programs.
4. Arbor View (Las Vegas)2011 finish: 9-3
Head coach: Dan Barnson
Team previewLed by one of the state’s top offensive linemen in
Elijah George (6-6, 250), the Aggies return nine starters from a team that averaged almost 38 points per game and scored at least 55 in four games. With
Thomas Newton (6-3, 250), Barnson has another big, talented lineman who should help free fleet running back
Donnie Gaskin (5-8, 180), who rushed for 1,198 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. Arbor View’s only losses last year were to Gorman (twice) and Palo Verde. Look for Arbor View players on the
2011 Nevada All-League Football Teams list.
5. Reed (Sparks)2011 finish: 12-2
Head coach: Ernie Howren
Team previewThe Raiders opened the season with a loss to Northern California power Granite Bay (43-37) and ended losing to Gorman (72-28). In between, they won 12 straight games and averaged 53 points in the process. Reed will need to replace quarterback Anthony Silva, who threw for 2,884 yards and 43 touchdowns, but incoming senior
Mark Nowaczewski seems up for the task after completing 78 percent of his passes as a backup. His favorite target should be
Devin Gray (53 catches, 904 yards, 10 touchdowns last year). Reed will be gunning this season to add its name to the
Nevada state football champions for the past 10 years list.
