Looking at the past present and future of high school football in the Silver State.
Staff Report
MaxPreps.com
Best Player: Justin Chaisson, Sr., DE, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Numbers aren’t always deceiving. In the case of Chaisson, his prototype is off the charts. He’s 6-foot-5 and 252 pounds. Check. He bench presses 395, squats 525 and has a vertical jump of 36 inches. Check, check and check. He runs the 40 in 4.72. Mighty check. We know the robo numbers don’t always translate on the football field. But in Chaisson’s case, everything is aligned. He had a state-record 23 sacks last year and a remarkable 102 tackles for state 4A champion and 14-0 Gaels. No wonder Oklahoma snatched him up. Returning state leaders - Passing: Max Jenkins (Moapa Valley) 106 of 200, 1,858 yards, 20 TDs; Rushing: Reggie Bullock (Western) 119 rushes, 1,267 yards, 12 TDs.
Best All-Time Player: Gerald Riggs, RB, Bonanza
After starring at Bonanza and Arizona State, Riggs enjoyed an 11-year NFL career that featured 8,000 rushing yards and 69 touchdowns. Current Rams running back Steven Jackson, a fellow Nevadan, is beginning to push Riggs. The El Dorado graduate has already racked up more than 4,200 yards and was named All-Pro in 2006.
2008 Must See: Bishop Gorman vs. Brophy Prep (Ariz.)
No chance for the Gaels to rest on their title from last year as they open the season a week early (Aug. 23) in the Sollenberger Classic at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale (Ariz.), home of the Phoenix Cardinals. Brophy Prep went 12-2 last season and captured its second state crown in three years.
On The Throne: Palo Verde
With all due respect to defending champion Bishop Gorman, Palo Verde appears to have the most coming back from last year. The Panthers lost just two key players from last year’s team which finished 12-1. Speed and skill is the team’s strength led by a trio of 900-yard plus rusher including Chaz Thomas (1,053 yards, 18 TDs), Sydney Hodge (945 yards, 10 TDs) and Tyrone Blake (902 yards, 12 TDs). LB Liloa Nobriga is one of the best in the state and leads the defense. Gorman had always hovered around the elite but it wasn’t until coach Bob Altshuler arrived last season from Washington did the Gaels flourish. They graduated plenty but return Chaisson, WR/DB Taylor Spencer, LB Evan Palelei and offensive linemen Sam Womack, Geoffrey Gibson and Ian Bobak. They’ll need a big year from first-year QB Joe Huber and they are largely rebuilding defensively. But Gorman is deep and talented. Whether they can hold off Las Vegas (9-5 last year), Verde, McQueen (13-2) and Silverado (10-1) for the top spot in the state is another manner.
Best Rivalry: Las Vegas vs. Rancho High (Santa Ana)
Tabbed “The Bone Game,” this has been the largest football game in Nevada since 1957 and the series is almost dead even at 26-25-1 in favor of Las Vegas. The contest is played for Sir Hermimer’s bone, a large cow bone proposed by the Rancho Letterman’s Club. Las Vegas has won “The Bone” the last 12 years, including 37-0 last season. The games haven’t been close for a while as Rancho hasn’t closed to within 20 the last six seasons.
Future Star: LB Jordan Welte (Bishop Gorman)
The 6-foot, 195-pound Welte saw considerable time on special teams, but figures to slide into a starting spot as a sophomore. The Gaels lost plenty to graduation at LB and Welte is expected to fill the gaps. “He’s just an intense, physical kid,” Altshuler said.
Fun Fact
Unlike much of the rest of the country where top prospects commit early, only five of Nevada’s top 20 recruits have picked their schools: Chaisson, DB Toin Harris (Palo Verde, USC), LB T.J. Alofipo (Silverado, Hawaii), athlete Duke Williams (Hug, Nevada) and WR Courtney Gardner (Hug, Nevada).
MaxPreps Preseason All-State Team
WR – Ryan Roberts, Truckee
WR – DeShawn Stewart, Canyon Springs
WR – Courtney Gardner, Hug
TE – Tim Lawson, Del Sol
OL – Karrington Armstrong, McQueen
OL – Jeremiah Tofeano, Cheyenne
OL – Geofrey Gibson, Bishop Gorman
OL – Jake Broyles, Foothill
OL – Willie Tupou, Hug
QB – Nicolas Libonati, Green Valley
QB – Dalton Leilua, Desert Pines
RB – Chaz Thomas, Palo Verde
RB – Tyler York, McQueen
RB – Reggie Bullock, Western
ATH – Emir Lopez, Las Vegas
K – Anthony Martinez, McQueen
DL – Justin Chaisson, Bishop Gorman
DL – Keenan Graham, Silverado
DL – Kyle Van Noy, McQueen
DL – Rodrick Tuisavalo, Rancho
LB – Liloa Nobriaga, Palo Verde
LB – T.J. Alofipo, Silverado
LB – Alex Korman, Del Sol
LB – Damien Proby, Cheyenne
DB – Gabryn Toney, Shadow Ridge
DB –Michael Wadsworth, Silverado
DB – Duke Williams, Hug
DB – Trent DeBraga, Churchill County
DB – Torin Harris, Palo Verde
P – Nolan Kohorst, Green Valley
State Preview Video
