Wildcats begin new title run

In Southern Nevada, no program has left its mark on the postseason like Las Vegas, and the ninth-ranked Wildcats again flexed their playoff muscle with a 43-26 home victory over Coronado in the first round of the Sunrise Region playoffs Friday night.

The two-time defending state champions came in as the No. 2 seed from the Northeast Division, but they know there is always a target on their backs. Five state title game appearances in the past six years will do that to a team.

"Everyone wants to come at us," quarterback Marvin Campbell said. "We need to be at the top of our game all the time."

After a slow first quarter, Campbell certainly appeared to be at the top of his game.

The senior connected on 12 straight passes after starting 1-for-5. In the decisive second quarter, Campbell was 9-for-9 for 124 yards and three scores as Las Vegas outscored Coronado 20-0 to take a 27-6 lead into halftime.

Coronado (6-5) took a quick lead on a 65-yard run by Darryl Lawrence on the second play of the game. But after holding Las Vegas (7-4) to three-and-outs on their first two possessions, the Cougars made a big mistake with a bad snap on a punt attempt that gave the Wildcats the ball on the Coronado 15-yard line.

It took just one play for Las Vegas to take advantage as Emery Schexnayder scored on a weaving run from 15 yards to get the Wildcats on the board.

"Instinct just kind of took over," said the sophomore running back who had taken a direct snap on the play. "It’s always crucial to score when you get the ball down there."

The slow start was nothing new for Las Vegas coach Chris Faircloth.

"We are a horribly slow-starting team," he said. "We’ve done some things to try and get it fixed and we’re going to have to keep on that. We had better start a little faster or we’re not going to have many more games to start."

Once the Wildcats got going, Coronado could not stop them.

Campbell’s second quarter touchdown passes went to Michael Alexander, Zerrick Pryor and Craig Williams, the final one coming on a fourth-and-6 play with under a minute to go in the half.

Campbell added a 2-yard scoring run midway through the third quarter.

Las Vegas plays at fourth-ranked Silverado next Friday.