Bishop Gorman is our pick as the best team in the Silver State. But watch out for Liberty, Arbor View, Green Valley and Truckee.
Bishop Gorman is the top team in Nevada this season - just like it has been since 2009.
Photo by Jann Hendry
1. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)2012 finish: 13-1, Division I champion
Head coach: Tony SanchezTeam previewThe Gaels have been the class of the Silver State for a while now (four titles in a row), and this year doesn't appear to be the one where someone else knocks them from their perch even though they lost their quarterback to graduation, top running back to expulsion and top defensive end to transfer (all Division I players). Sanchez is extremely high on the defensive front seven and though there are quite a few new skill players for the
No. 24 team in the nation, quarterback
Randall Cunnigham Jr. and running back
Daniel Stewart know the routine. Tight end
Alize Jones has a Notre Dame offer and lineman
Nick Gates is a highly coveted 300-pound beast alongside
Zack Singer. The preseason schedule is loaded with national elite teams, so an undefeated season may be asking a lot. Still, it's hard to imagine a Nevada team competing with this juggernaut.
"The offensive line is once again loaded with FBS recruits. If the Gaels
can overcome all the turmoil from this spring and show well in several
early season tests, it will solidify their reputation as a rising power
out West."
- David Schoen, Sports writer at the Las Vegas Review-Journal (@DavidSchoenLVRJ)See the Top 15 Nevada football dynasties
2. Liberty (Henderson)
Jarvis Polu, Liberty
File photo by Ian Tennant
11-2, state semifinalist
Head coach: Rich MuracoTeam previewYou can't say the Patriots aren't trying to keep up with Gorman. They've loaded their schedule with top teams from all across the west and they're out to prove that you can't just give the title to the Gaels at the start of the season. Although they have starters returning in 13 spots, they still have a big hill to climb after losing 63-10 to Gorman in the playoffs last season and parting ways with three All-State performers (two of which were defensive backs). They do bring back a weapon that a lot of teams don't have: A great kicker.
Austin Fitzgerald knocked 10 of his 11 attempts through the goal posts and connected on a long of 48 yards. In addition to Fitzgerald, they bring back three big players down low:
Reno Tu'ufuli (6-4, 260),
Jozef Misaalefua (6-3, 265) and
Jarvis Polu (6-3, 245).
"The Patriots have established themselves as an area power with three straight Sunrise Region titles, but we'll truly find out where they stand out west this season. The schedule is loaded, which is a pretty good indicator that Muraco likes what he has coming back. Liberty wins games because of its big guys up front and that formula shouldn't change, even with new faces at quarterback and running back."
- David Schoen, Sports writer at the Las Vegas Review-Journal (@DavidSchoenLVRJ)See the last season's final Nevada football rankings, presented by the Army National Guard3. Arbor View (Las Vegas)2012 finish: 10-1, state quarterfinalist
Head coach: Dan BarnsonTeam previewThe Aggies must replace all-state players in linebacker Beau Dixon and offensive lineman Elijah George after losing to Centennial in the playoffs despite beating the Bulldogs during the regular season. The double wing offense will bring back four players who played wingback last season (
Anthony Smith,
Salah Boyce,
Jacob Speaks and
Herman Grey) and two fullbacks (
Ricky Clark and
Lonnie Sharpe), and the defense will play with the entire defensive backfield returning (Boyce, Speaks and
Devon Turner).
Malik Noshi started at guard last year as a sophomore and will move to tackle. He is the only returning starter on the offensive line though the players expected to start this year have experience on the field. Quarterback is still undecided for Arbor View.
"Though we are losing quite a few offensive linemen, we feel we have several young kids who will fill in nicely. We have a strong JV and Freshman team we are pulling from for the 2013 season. Our goal this season is to WIN."
- Head coach Dan Barnson See last season's Nevada football playoff brackets4. Green Valley (Henderson)
Kyler Chavez, Green Valley
File photo by Jann Hendry
9-2, state quarterfinalist
Head coach: Brian CastroTeam previewReturning first team all-state performer
Tyrell Crosby will look to pave the way for the Gators as they seek supremacy in the Sunrise Division. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound tackle will help the team rebound from losing second team all-state players Sam McAloon and Mitchell Barry. The Gators bring back many of their skill position performers, including junior quarterback
Christian Lopez, running back
Albert Lake and receivers
Markus Varner and
Kyler Chavez. Defensive players expected to contribute are safety
Gio Hernandez and defensive end
Preston Quirt. The defense has some holes that need to be filled (especially at linebacker). A weapon that Castro touted is kicker
Conor Perkins.
"We are excited about the upcoming season. We have a tough nonconference schedule that should give us an idea of where we stand as a
team. We think the kids filling those holes on D can be good, but they are untested and lack experience."
- Head coach Brian CastroSee all the players from Nevada high schools in the NFL last year
5. Truckee (Calif.)
2012 finish: 11-1, I-A state champion
Head coach: Josh Ivens
Team previewNo, it's not a typo. This California team is one of the top five in Nevada. The Wolverines ran their winning streak to 41 games last season (tying the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association record) before Fernley nipped them 7-0. Then they won 47-13 over that same squad on the way to the I-A state title, the program's fourth-straight. A coaching change is hardly a big deal in this small mountain town, as THS alum and defensive coordinator
Josh Ivens takes over for legend Bob Shaffer. Truckee will have a very experienced offensive line with four players returning as it seeks a seventh-straight league title, but will have to replace a defensive lineman and linebacker who each made the All-State team.
Louden Smith is a 6-foot-4 quarterback who saw time behind center last season and
Blake Crosby (6-0, 315) will be the center this year. Linebackers
Austin Vance and
Lance Bokinskie are also back for a program that has always been tough on defense.
"The Wolverines are always good. We'll see if they are good enough to earn a fifth consecutive state championship in this year of transition. It will be interesting to see what happens in the post-Shaffer era. Based on history, the defense will likely be strong as usual, while on the offensive side, the Wolverines show promise with several quality players returning."
- Sylas Wright, Tahoe Daily Tribune/Sierra Sun (tahoedailytribune.com)
