Skyhawks seek better result this time against Wildcats

When Las Vegas High plays at Silverado tonight, it will be the third time in the past four years that the teams have met in the Sunrise Region football semifinals.

And the Skyhawks are hoping for a different outcome this time around. Las Vegas beat Silverado 21-14 in 2004 and 27-8 in 2005.

"It’s a good opportunity, because we’ve lost to them twice in the second round of the playoffs, so it’s a good chance for us to get revenge," Silverado quarterback Nick Underwood said.

The Skyhawks (10-0) enter the game as the Sunrise Region’s last undefeated team, but that doesn’t mean they feel like the favorites against the two-time defending state champions, who come in with a 7-4 mark.

"I bet if you took a poll, we wouldn’t be considered the favorites," Silverado coach Andy Ostolaza said. "It’s still Las Vegas High School, the defending champs."

For Silverado to have success, it will have to continue to dominate on the ground. The Skyhawks have averaged 336 rushing yards per game this season, led by Telvin McMillian, who is second in the area with 1,732 rushing yards.

"We haven’t faced anybody with a running attack as good as theirs is," Las Vegas coach Chris Faircloth said. "We haven’t faced anybody with a running back as good as theirs is."

The Skyhawks have averaged 50.7 points over their last three games, so Faircloth knows slowing their offense will be key.

"In order for us to have any chance to win, it would have to be somewhat of a low-scoring game," Faircloth said. "If they have a lot of success on offense, it’s probably going to be over."

• Del Sol (9-1) at Canyon Springs (9-1) — The teams tried to kick off the season in August, but the game was called shortly after halftime because of malfunctioning lights.

Canyon Springs coach Matt Jenkins said he remembers one thing about the Dragons from that game.

"They’re freaking huge," he said.

Del Sol’s line, which averages 250 pounds per player, has Jenkins scared, and with good reason. The Pioneers haven’t been the most successful team at stopping the run, allowing more than 600 rushing yards over the last two weeks, including a 319-yard performance by Green Valley’s Frank Satterfield in the first round of the playoffs.

"The bottom line is the buck stops with me, and it’s my job to make sure that doesn’t happen," Jenkins said. "We’re going to do the best we can, but I don’t know if we have an answer."

Even without leading rushing Bryan Grenier, who is out for the season with a knee injury, the Dragons have a strong rushing attack.

Jordan Molina has 323 yards on just 18 carries in the last three games, and Ernest Hall has added 205 yards in that span as the duo has stepped in for Grenier.

"They’re physical, they’re big, and I don’t know if they didn’t get better with (Grenier) out," Jenkins said. "He was a great football player, but between (Hall) and (Molina), those two kids have done the job."

While Del Sol is one of the area’s best running teams, there is no question that Canyon Springs is the best passing team.

Pioneers quarterback Devonte Christopher has passed for an area-best 3,082 yards and 43 touchdowns. Receiver Juron Criner has 53 catches for 1,521 yards and 26 TDs.

And Deshawn Stewart has come up big in the last two games, catching 14 passes for 356 yards and five TDs.

"We’ve got to cover forever, because Christopher is really good about letting his receivers work downfield and finding the open guy," Del Sol coach Preston Goroff said.

And Goroff has reminded his team of one thing: It was winning 21-19 when the lights went out in August.

"We’ve stressed to the team this week that when the lights went off, we were up," Goroff said. "We definitely feel like we’re game, and that it’s two good football teams playing each other."

Contact Prep Sports Editor Damon Seiters at dseiters@reviewjournal.com or (702) 380-4587.