Too Early To Tell? South Football Appearing Dominant
Sunday, August 31st, 2008by Chip Erekson
Even though the 2008 football season just completed it’s first full weekend, it looks as if the Southern teams are planning to make it difficult on the North to take back the championships. The 1A might be the exception.
In a repeat of last year’s 1A title game, Carlin’s 36-32 decision over Tonopah Thursday night was the only North win out of five contests against Southern teams. The 1A’s Round Mountain Knights defeated 2A’s Mineral County by a score of 26-14.
Last year’s 3A champion Moapa Valley Pirates handed the Vaqueros of Fernley and their first year head coach Jeff Knutson, who spent nearly two decades on the sidelines of Southern Nevada football, their first loss by a score of 33-14. Las Vegas High, who has won two of the last four state 4A titles taken by Southern teams, defeated Douglas by 6 in the only close Southern win, 41-35.
Then there was the surprise game of the weekend, despite one Southern reporters pick of a 17 point win by Palo Verde. When the rule of the running clock (see http://www.niaa.com/Official’s_Page/Sports/FB/FBMercy_Rule.pdf for explanation of rule) was implemented for this season, I doubt there was anyone who thought it would be used the opening weekend in a 4A matchup; especially by two #1 seeded playoff teams from the previous year. Palo Verde took to their home field Friday night and let everyone in the state know they were going to be tough to contain. They handed the Huskies of Reno a goose egg in the scoring column while crossing the goal line for 56 points.
So, if by scoring alone, the South showed dominance by a 186-95 margin of victory against their Northern counter parts. Granted it’s still early and four of the five games were home games for the South, but is it a statement for what is to be in late November and into December? We’ll anxiously await the final outcome. The North has a chance to redeem itself come this weekend as Spring Creek(1-0) travels to Faith Lutheran(1-0) and Coleville(1-0) visits Round Mountain (1-0) for 7pm, Friday night matchups.