FSM Essential Recap: 702HSFB - 4A State Championship - 2022

FSM Essential Recap: 702HSFB – 4A State Championship – 2022

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The 2022 high school football season comes to a close in Allegiant Stadium. Nevada’s remaining four state title games were held this Monday, with four teams ending the season as state champions. Capping off the day, the Silverado Skyhawks (11-0) and Shadow Ridge Mustangs (11-1) decided the outcome of the 4A State Championship for the second year in a row.

Monday night was the game many Las Vegas High School Football fans had been waiting for all season long.

The #6 ranked Shadow Ridge had the taste of a 61-27 defeat at the hands of Silverado in last year’s NIAA 4A championship game at Allegiant Stadium. However, they came into this game riding a nine-game winning streak and feeling supremely confident in their chance to avenge last year’s loss.

For #3 ranked Silverado, it was a chance to make school history. The Skyhawks had won 23 straight games, outscoring their opponents by a score of 601-40, flexing a dominant defense and an explosive offense. They were the hunted all season and didn’t allow last season’s success to affect them or their goal of repeating as champions.

These were the two best teams in the 4A division all season, and they were on a collision course from the jump. Their styles of play are as different as night and day. Shadow Ridge runs a double-wing, option-based offense. In contrast, Silverado runs a spread and a Power-I offense. Both have explosive and powerful players and stingy defenses.

They say styles make fights, and this looked to be a heavyweight bout that could go the distance.

With Shadow Ridge deferring to the second half, Silverado’s Tristan Hudson would take the opening squib kick down to the Mustang 30-yard line. Then, on the very first play from scrimmage, running back Cayden Harris caught a swing pass from Brandon Tunnell and burst into the open field, down the Shadow Ridge sideline, and past Mustang defenders into the endzone for a touchdown to get the scoring going.

Just like that, the Skyhawks led 7-0.

But Shadow Ridge didn’t flinch. On their opening possession, the Mustangs matched right down the field and found paydirt when quarterback Coen Coloma scored on a keeper to tie the game. Silverado scored again on another Harris touchdown, this time via the ground game, to go back up 14-7, and held that lead as the first quarter came to a close.

The Mustangs came right back in the second quarter as Evan Cannon took a handoff to the house on a 65-yard touchdown run to get Shadow Ridge and their fans right back in it. The score was tied at 14, both sides gave the other their best shot, and the packed house at Allegiant Stadium loved it.

This was when Donavyn Pellot got involved with the scoring. Pellot caught a pass and turned upfield towards the north endzone, where he was met by two Mustang players. However, the Skyhawk’s all-everything player lowered his shoulder and would not be denied as he ran through them and carried them into the endzone for a Silverado touchdown to bring the score to 21-14 with under a minute left in the half.

The first half ended with the Skyhawks leading 21-14 over the Mustangs.

With one-half of football left in the 2022 Las Vegas High School Football season, “This is what a Championship game should look like,” legendary, long-time high school defensive coordinator Brad Tallech told me on the sideline. “That was a big touchdown. Now how will Shadow Ridge respond, and what adjustments will Silverado make?” Tallech said to me during halftime.

Well, that got answered quickly. Cannon scored again on a long run to tie the game at 21. Silverado matched right back down the field. Harris and Pellot carried rock on four straight plays leading the Skyhawks down inside the 5-yard line. That’s when the tide turned. Harris fumbled the ball just before the goal line, and a scramble for the ball ensued. In-between two Mustang defenders, Silverado’s big offensive lineman, Jamal Boyd, emerged with a big man touchdown, and the Skyhawks took a 28-21 lead.

On the next possession, Shadow Ridge was backed up and forced to punt after Silverado seemed to have adjusted to the formation that was not only giving them trouble but allowing Shadow Ridge to open gapping holes off tackle and get chunk plays. The snap went over the punter’s head and out of the end zone for a safety, and the momentum was all on the Silverado sideline. The score was 30-21, and Silverado was looking to end the game on their next possession.

The Skyhawks drove down the field, and a Brandon Tunnell quarterback sneak capped off the drive to extend the lead to 37-21 as the third quarter came to a close. Could Silverado finish off a perfect season and repeat as champions? Or would Shadow Ridge continue their second-half dominance we have seen all playoffs and pull off an improbable comeback?

The Mustangs scored on a 39-yard touchdown run from Cannon but failed on the two-point conversion to cut the Skyhawk lead to 37-27. But just like a true champion, Silverado went for the knockout punch when they saw their opponent hurt and wounded.

The Skyhawks were driving when they were faced with a 3rd and 17. As Tunnell dropped back to pass, he faced a heavy Mustang pass rush. Tunnell was forced to climb the pocket and took off down the middle of Allegiant Stadium. The Mustang defensive backs closed on him, converging as Tunnell dove for the first down marker. However, Silverado’s quarterback just had the back-breaking play that not only kept possession of the ball but also ended the game for all intents and purposes. Two plays later, Tunnell hit D’Angelo Hagens for a 30-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 44-27.

After Silverado forced a turnover on downs, they were content with running the clock out. But on third down, Harris broke free for a 40-yard touchdown and gave the Skyhawks a 51-27 lead with under two minutes left in the game. The Skyhawks emptied their bench, something head coach Andy Ostolaza does when the game is in hand, and Silverado was back-to-back 4A champions.

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The FSM Prep Rally Final Regular Season Top 10 Rankings:

(The final Top 10 Ranking will come out after state championship games.)

1. Bishop Gorman Gaels (5A Champion) 
2. Liberty Patriots (-)
3. Silverado Skyhawks (4A Champion)
4. Desert Pines Jaguars (-)
5. Arbor View Aggies (-)
6. Shadow Ridge Mustangs (L)
7. Las Vegas Wildcats (-)
8. Coronado Cougars (-)
9. Basic Wolves  (-)
10. Faith Lutheran Crusaders (-)

Franchise Sports Media has your 702 High School Football season covered. Please make sure you tune into The FSM Prep Rally all season for your Las Vegas High School Football coverage and interact with us on all our social media platforms and in the comments section. 

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– Joe Arrigo – Franchise Sports Media

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