As football kickoff inches closer around the country, MaxPreps forecasts the top five teams in the state of Nevada for the 2009 season.
Gorman's bullish tight end Xavier Grimble (6) is USC-bound.
Photy by Matt Cohen
The Gaels have a lot coming back from last year’s stellar squad — 12 starters — but they have a new coach in Tony Sanchez, who led teams to state New Mexico titles and most recently, lifted California High in San Ramon to one of the top programs in the San Francisco Bay Area. One of the nation’s top tight ends USC-bound Xavier Grimble (6-5, 245) leads the squad along with an absolute stout line. That line is led by Cal-bound Geoff Gibson (6-4, 310), Stanford-bound Alex Turner (6-2, 245), Evan Palelei (6-3, 235), Tim Gulley (6-3, 280) and Jalen Grimble (6-3, 215), cousin of Xavier. Receiver and defensive back Taylor Spencer (26 catches, 10 TDs) is the team’s game-breaker and Stanford-bound Evan Palelei is one of the state’s best linebackers. Sanchez has been successful wherever he’s gone. This should be no different.
2. Palo Verde (Las Vegas, 14-1)
Even the bad news from last year is good news for the Panthers. It was an excruciating 13-12 loss in the state finals to McQueen, but it has served as nothing but a motivating factor for 2009. The Panthers return eight starters from that team and also get a lot of talent from a JV team that went 8-1 last year. The two best players are two-way starters in 6-foot-5, 230-pound tackle Daniel Godkin (90 tackles, five sacks last year) and Tyrone Blake (6-0, 195), a junior fullback and safety who has 23 career touchdowns. Transfer Ernest Hall (5-10, 195), who rushed for 1,207 yards and 16 touchdowns for Del Sol, is a huge addition.
3 Bishop Manogue (Reno, 11-2)
The tradition power with 13 state crowns under its belt, look to junior quarterback Zach McElroy to carry the large void left but a slew of talented skill players. The Miners want to wash away the bitter season-ending 38-0 semifinal loss to eventual champion McQueen. Running backs Austin Petersen and Jake Ramatici will have to replace graduated studs Joshua Dupree and Nathan Lytle, who combined for more than 2,000 yards and 26 touchdowns last year.
4. Legacy (Henderson, 7-4)
Everyone has been pointing to this season for the Longhorns, who finished 12th in the final Nevada MaxPreps computer rankings last season. The third-year program returns a whopping 14 from last year, including super quick scat back Deshae Edwards (5-8, 155), who went for 1,351 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. Senior linebacker-fullback William Purcell (6-0, 230) is another huge force. Gorman knocked the Longhorns in the first game of the playoffs out of the playoffs.
{VIDEO_f0145a3c-e012-4676-a0a7-3d921d1ab43c,floatRightWithBar}5. Las Vegas (12-2)
Not only do the Wildcats return six starters to each side of the ball, but their JV team went undefeated last season. The team is stacked on the line with the likes of Austin Woo (6-2, 265), Dallin Van Buskirk (6-0, 215), Jordan Turner (6-1, 260) and Trey McElhaney (6-3, 250). Junior wide receiver Marquan Major (6-3, 175), a major recruit, leads an inexperience skill group. He had 59 catches for 742 yards and six TDS as a sophomore.
Others considered: Cheyenne (North Las Vegas, 10-2), McQueen (Reno, 14-0), Reed (Sparks, 7-5).
