Las Vegas High School Football – Silverado vs Shadow Ridge – State 4A State Championship
The 4-A Division state title was on the line between Silverado and Shadow Ridge High School.
Silverado has come full circle after a dominant win 61-27 over Shadow Ridge at Allegiant Stadium to claim the 4-A title. The Skyhawks are the only team to go undefeated in Las Vegas high school football this season.
Silverado junior quarterback Brandon Tunnell was the catalyst for the Skyhawks on Thursday evening, completing 13 of 18 passes for 325 yards and five touchdowns. Three Silverado wide receivers caught passes, including twin brother Bryson, who hauled in four for 55 yards and two TDs. In addition, Donavyn Pellot caught six passes for 143 yards and a touchdown, and Jaden Thrower had three catches for 127 yards and two TDs.
“What made the difference was our skill guys,” Silverado head coach Andy Ostolaza said after the game. “They performed at such a high level, starting with our quarterback. I told you guys at the beginning of the year he’s the best quarterback in Silverado history. I thought he was the best quarterback in our entire league, and I think he proved it tonight.”
Skyhawks had a 33-14 halftime lead over the Mustangs and put things away quickly in the third quarter.
In the third quarter, fumbles on three successive Shadow Ridge drives turned into three Silverado touchdowns for a 54-14 lead. The big play of the third quarter came when senior cornerback John Agounke blasted the Mustang running back, causing a fumble that saw the Skyhawks scoop and score.
Shadow Ridge tried to match Silverado’s passing game with its double-wing attack. It was effective early in the game and kept the score close in the first quarter. The Mustangs rushed for 334 yards, with Jaquieze Holland gaining 144 yards and quarterback Coen Coloma with 90, but the Skyhawks showed why they were the class of 4-A all season.
“We had a lot of things go for us,” Ostolaza said. “Obviously, with COVID, we weren’t hit. I’m really happy that we never got affected by that. To be honest, we got extremely lucky, and that’s what it took to win.”
This season the Skyhawks outscored their opponents by an average of 52-11 and put up over 40 points in every playoff game. They scored over 50 points six times, including scoring over 70 twice this season.
Silverado was the most complete and balanced team top to bottom all season (not named Bishop Gorman or Liberty). They would beat you in the air, on the ground, on defense, and scoring on special teams. Their discipline and communication were off the charts, and they were fun to watch.
For the 2021 Silverado Skyhawks, this was a season that could be the building block for a bright future.
When Silverado head coach Andy Ostolaza returned to the program a few years ago, the Skyhawks won one game. The following year they won 4 games, then COVID hit. Credit his players for buying into what he and his staff were preaching. Silverado has shown the blueprint for a program that wants to turn around and win ball games while producing scholar-athletes. Credit the Silverado administration for allowing coach Ostolaza to build the program his way: the right way.
Silverado will return some of the Valley’s best players in 2022. Running back Cayden Harris, Pellot, the Tunnell brothers, Chris Federico, Tariu Alailefaleula, Shyne Johnson, Jammal Boyd II, Rylerson Inong, Blayke Michael, and Mark Pascual, to name a few. They should be the favorites to win the 4-A title again in 2022, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want the challenge to prove they can compete with anyone, including Gorman.
“I have to stay humble and say they’re in 5A for a reason,” Brandon Tunnell said of Gorman. “But I’d like to see a challenge like that next year.”
Until then, this Skyhawks team will celebrate their school’s first football state championship. The best team in 4-A won the title that they earned by beating every team decisively all season.
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