FSM Essential Recap: Las Vegas High School Football Week 9 - 2022

FSM Essential Recap: Las Vegas High School Football Week 9- 2022

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Week 9 of the 702 high school football season wrapped up with another great slate of high school football! In the FSM Prep Rally Game of the Week, Lake Mead Academy hosted their league rival, the Needles Mustangs, in a showdown between two of the top teams in the 2A Southern Football League. 

Coming into week 9 of the 2022 season, the Lake Mead Academy Eagles have been one of the best 2A teams in Nevada. Head Coach Nate Oishi and his coaching staff, made up of all former UNLV football players, have made quick work of turning their team into a top contender. This week, the Eagles looked to win a school-record sixth game of the season while hosting the 4-3 Needles Mustangs. It would also be their first victory over their league rivals in school history, going 0-7 heading into the game in the FSM Prep Rally Game of the Week.

Let me set the stage for you. Lake Mead Christian Academy doesn’t have all the amenities that most Las Vegas schools have nowadays or even a stadium with field turf and a press box. So instead, they play on a field with bleachers, or fans bring their fold-up chairs and sit close to the action. It is reminiscent of old-school high school football, and it is glorious. But don’t get it confused, the Eagles are not playing when you come to their house, and they don’t play an old-school style of football.

Needles came into the game beating Lake Mead Christian Academy seven straight years, and from the eye test, it looked as if they might make it eight straight. But the Eagles are also well built, having a good mix of size and speed, coupled with no fear and a will to win.

The Eagles took a 7-0 lead after scoring on their second possession. Senior quarterback Zach Pantea hit freshman Matthew Cummins on a corner route for the game’s first touchdown. Then, after stopping the Mustangs again, Lake Mead shocked everyone, including Needles, when Pantea hit junior fullback/linebacker Jacob Beza on a screen pass, and he took it 55-yards to pay dirt to give the Eagles a 14-0 lead. But the Eagles weren’t finished scoring in the first half. Pantea then threw his third TD pass of the first half to senior wide receiver Chase Doran to cap off the first-half scoring and go to the break with a 21-0 lead.

In the second half, the Eagles continued to dominate on both sides of the ball. Pantea carved up the Mustangs’ secondary all night long. Mid-way through the third quarter, he connected with Doran again for another TD, his fourth touchdown pass pod the night, and the score was now 27-0. Doran stood out. Needles couldn’t cover him. He was open at will all night, and the Eagles took advantage of it.

After a Needles TD, the Eagles’ defense stepped up, much to the delight of former UNLV Rebel captain and Eagles defensive coordinator Mike Hughes. Lake Mead sacked the Needles quarterback nearly every time he dropped back to pass. They also had two interceptions, one of which was the Eagles’ next touchdown, a pick-six to make the score 34-8. The Eagles’ final TD of the night came when Gavin Cummings came in late in the fourth quarter. On fourth down, he escaped the rush and took off down the far sideline for a long touchdown run to give the Eagles a resounding 41-8 win.

With the win, the Eagles have won their sixth game of the season, a school record. In their second season together, coach Oishi and his staff have quickly turned Lake Mead around. They are looking to continue the positive momentum of this season and turn it into a long-term, sustaining, winning program. The Eagles will now play Laughlin next week before taking on Meadows for the league title on Thursday, October 27th, at home.

Silverado remains undefeated after thrashing Sunrise Mountain 63-0

The Silverado Skyhawks beat Sunrise Mountain 63-0. It is the Skyhawks’ twentieth straight win, dating back to last season when they went 12-0 and won the 4-A title. They are the only team to have not lost a game throughout the past two seasons and look to be the favorites to repeat as 4-A champions this season.

Senior quarterback Brandon Tunnell had a great night. He went 11-11, 277 yards, and threw three touchdowns, while the Valley’s best two-way player, Donavyn Pellot, also had three touchdowns. Pellot scored on a Tunnell TD pass while rushing for another, and for good measure, he returned a punt for a TD.

Cayden Harris also had three touchdowns on the night for the Skyhawks. Bryson Tunnell, Jamal Boyd, and D’Angelo Hagans also scored for Silverado.

The Skyhawks’ dominance is not just on the offensive side of the ball. This season, Silverado has outscored their opponents 444-23. They have not allowed a 4-A opponent to score this season. The 21 points allowed were against their 5-A opponents, and they outscored them 99-21 in their two matchups.

Believe it or not, that is even better than last year. The Skyhawks were one of the most dominant teams in the Valley in 2021, outscoring their opponents 628-128 en route to the 4-A title.

Silverado will look to remain undefeated and secure the top overall seed in 4-A heading into the NIAA playoffs when they travel to take on Desert Oasis next Friday night.

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The Prep Rally Top-10 Week 9 Scores:

#1 BISHOP GORMAN 70 – PALO VERDE 0

#2 LIBERTY (BYE)

#3 SILVERADO 63 – SUNRISE MOUNTAIN 0

#4 DESERT PINES 49 – #8 FAITH LUTHERAN 21

#5 ARBOR VIEW 48 – LEGACY 6

#6 SHADOW RIDGE 49 – MOJAVE 0

#7 LAS VEGAS 14 – BISHOP MANOGUE 55

#9 CORONADO 21 – SPRING VALLEY 19

#10 BASIC 27 – DURANGO 25

The FSM Prep Rally Top 10 Week 9 Rankings:

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

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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