Improved defense has Foothill off to 5-0 start

Foothill has been a solid but not spectacular football program in recent years, posting a 22-19 record during the previous four seasons.

But the Falcons are off to a 5-0 start — ranked No. 5 among Class 4A teams — and the biggest change this season has come on defense.

Foothill already has posted three shutouts this season, but will face a stiff challenge when they travel to No. 2 Liberty (4-1, 1-0 Southeast League) at 7 p.m. Friday.

“We feel pretty confident going in there,” senior running back/linebacker Issac Oliva said. “Coach is helping us, putting us in the right positions, and we’re going to make plays this Friday and try to make the upset of the week.”

Foothill (1-0 Southeast) has allowed 21 points this season after giving up an average of 30.2 during the previous four years. Not only are the Falcons giving up fewer points, they’re not allowing many yards. Foothill has surrendered an average of 132.4 yards with Chaparral gaining a season-high 173 against the Falcons.

“The defense has done an excellent job of keeping us in games,” Foothill coach Marty Redmond said. “A couple games early they really carried us, and we’ve got a few shutouts this year. They’ve done a really good job of getting our offense back on the field and giving us more opportunities to score.”

Liberty is unlike the team’s previous opponents, however. The seven-time defending Sunrise Region champs have averaged 331.4 yards this season, led by senior quarterback Kenyon Oblad, who became the state’s leader in career passing yards (10,318) last week.

“It’s a little nerve wracking, but you live for these games,” said two-way senior lineman Charles Shepherd. “It’s fun. Two teams clashing at it and see who wants it more.

“Everyone is feeling a little excited, nervous, just ready to play and see what we can do. See how well we can fight these guys.”

Getting pressure on Oblad may be the key. He has passed for 1,188 yards and 10 touchdowns with just two interceptions this season. He has a trio of outstanding receivers to throw to in Cervontes White (18 catches, 385 yards), Marquez Powell (20 catches, 310 yards) and David Elder (20 catches, 210 yards).

“They have a quarterback that can just flat out throw it,” Redmond said. “He can spin it really well, as good as anybody I’ve seen in a long time. And then they have guys with just speed. If you have speed and a guy that can get them the football, that’s very difficult and that’s the challenge we face this week.”

More preps: Follow all of our Nevada Preps coverage online at nevadapreps.com and @NevadaPreps on Twitter.

Contact prep sports editor Damon Seiters at dseiters@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4587. Follow @DamonSeiters on Twitter.