2025 Bishop Manogue Miners Season Preview

2025 Bishop Manogue Miners Season Preview

By: J. Ray Dockter

We are just under two weeks away from the start of the high school football season in The Silver State and I couldn’t be more excited. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be previewing many teams from our local area as well as a few other surprises, before getting into football season full swing on Aug. 14^th when the first games kick off. Without further ado here is Today’s team: Bishop Manogue.

Bishop Manogue Miners

Head Coach: Ernie Howren, ninth season at Bishop Manogue (69-25 overall, 36-5 league in eight seasons at Bishop Manogue; 215-78 overall, 111-24 league in 23 seasons total)

Previous Seasons Record: 10-3 overall, 5-0 league; 2024 NIAA 5A-II State Champions.

Overview: For the second year in a row the Miners season ended just the way that they had hoped, as State Champions. The Miners are riding high as they chase a third consecutive NIAA Class 5A State Championship. This year may prove to be a tougher path than the past two years as I discussed in my previous article that the 5A-II that the Miners dominated the past two seasons no longer exists. If they are going to win this year, they will do it as the outright 5A State Champions.

After securing back-to-back state championships in 2023 and 2024, the Bishop Manogue Miners football team enters the 2025 season with one goal: a three-peat, which would only be accomplished for the second time in school history – dating back to 1972 when the Miners last completed the trifecta. With a championship coaching staff, and a battle-tested roster, the program has firmly established itself as a powerhouse in Northern Nevada football. Last year’s title run was particularly memorable, because it ended on an eight-game winning streak as the Miners rolled through the playoffs and state championship outscoring their opponents by an average of 20.3 points per game.

I don’t expect a lot of lineup changes for the Miners this year, so I anticipate that they will not slow down offensively. The Miners will continue to run the ‘Pistol’ – Howren said “As a program we feel the [pistol] spread allows us to adapt to [the] multiple defenses we see each week. For the first time since I’ve been covering high school sports the Miners will return their starting quarterback from the previous season as QB Brandon Mann returns to lead the Miners again this season. Mann passed for 2,435 yards and 31 touchdowns last season while also rushing for 866 yards and an additional six scores – proving his dual threat capabilities. Mann provides leadership and poise under center for the Miners. Much of this year’s success will depend on the performance in the trenches. Head Coach Ernie Howren has long praised his lineman – even dating back to his days at Reed. Howren has referred to his lineman as “very physical, [with] good size, and smart.” With a mix of experienced seniors and rising juniors, the front lines are expected to set the tone early in games. Mann will once again be targeting WR Demari Stacker, whose [great] speed and amazing route running made him a First Team All-Region performer, as a Freshman, he corralled 59 catches for 670 yards and five touchdowns. Proving Howren right when the head coach called him a “day one starter” last season. Howren was quick to point out that the three strengths of his team this season were “skill positions, o-line, and hard work.”

Defensively, the Miners won’t be taking a step back either. The team returns six starters, including Kole Cronin, a ferocious pass rusher who was named Defensive lineman of the year as a Junior last season; Marley Spuhler, who is a disruptive force at linebacker and led the Miners in tackles with 96 last season as well as JT Thomas, who is a ball-hawking defensive back with a pro pedigree and natural talent to boot – he also has a knack for making big plays. The returning core has championship experience and chemistry, making them the region’s most dangerous unit. Coach Howren was quick to praise the group’s offseason work ethic, and he expects them to set the tone early in the season. The Miners will continue to operate out of the ‘Stack’ defensively. Howren said, “As a program, we feel the Stack allows us [to] show multiple fronts and blitzes while adapting to multiple offenses.”

A welcome change for the Miners this season will be the fact that they won’t have to travel as much this fall. Last year they only hosted three home games during the regular season while going on the road seven times. Unlike last season’s extended road schedule that saw the team log hundreds of miles, this year’s travel demands are minimal with them only being scheduled to travel a total of 71.4 miles round trip for their regular season league games, outside of traveling to St. Mary’s (Stockton, Calif.) in the season’s second week for a tough non-conference game. This season’s longest road trip will likely end in a trip to Allegiant Stadium for a possible fourth consecutive appearance in the state championship game. The change in travel could prove to be more vital in keeping the team fresh for another postseason run. Howren was quick to point out that “The kids are doing a great job this summer, learning a lot about themselves and what it takes to be successful. We will continue to focus on discipline, the ability to keep picking ourselves up and fighting. It will come down to how fast we understand ‘Game Speed’ and practice is the only way to learn and achieve it.”

As the season kicks off, the Miners know that the target on their back is bigger than ever – having won 22 straight regular season league games (dating back to a loss against McQueen on September 10^th, 2021), and three straight regional championships, along with two state championships; but so is their confidence. With a championship DNA, led by Howren (who is 13 victories away from tying Ken Dalton (228) for second most wins in NIAA history), and returning stars on offense, defense and special teams the pieces are in place for a historic three-peat. Howren stated, “The goal is to keep getting better every week, find out where we are at and what we need to improve as the season goes.” The Miners will return as many as 14 starters this season and they are looking to create a legacy with their season ahead, but they’ll have to get after it in practices and the non-conference to be prepared for their league season once again. As Howren stated last year, “We are just getting started – see us in five years.”

Potential Projected Starters:

Offense

QB Brandon Mann, Senior: Great leader, He had a great Junior season – Completed 63% of his passes for 2,435 Passing Yards to go along with 31 TDs and only six interceptions last season. He was also responsible for 866 rushing yards and six TDs on the ground, proving his dual threat capabilities. Coach Howren said, “[He] will not settle, he has set high expectations for himself.” Mann is verbally committed to Nevada.

RB Nate Shannon, Senior: He had a great off-season getting bigger, faster, and stronger. He has great speed and vision as a RB. He was responsible for 626 rushing yards and six TDs on the ground to go along with 32 receiving yards and another touchdown through the air.

WR Demari Stacker, Sophomore: First Team All-Region as a Freshman. An amazing route runner coupled with great speed. Stacker proved to be a day one starter, just as Howren described him prior to last season. He was responsible for 59 receptions, 670 yards and five touchdowns in the receiving game last season.

WR Nate Simmons, Senior: One of the best athletes on the team.

WR JT Thomas, Senior: Another great athlete, tons of speed and great feet make JT a threat on every play.

TE Elijah Peterson, Senior OR Marley Spuhler, Senior

OT Kole Cronin, Senior: Three-year starter who is one of the best O-lineman in the state. Has 17 D-I offers and is currently committed to Boise State.

OG Max Zuro, Senior: Great size at 6-foot-6 inches and weighing in at 295 pounds. Howren described him as “very physical” and he is currently committed to Nevada.

C Mason Eck, Junior: Brother of Carter Eck (currently at Nevada), Mason is a very intelligent football player, while also being a very physical football player.

OG Bruce Royce, Junior OR Jacobe Cherry, Junior: Battling to start at RG.

OT Marcus Carey, Junior: Good size at 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds. He is smart.

Defense

DL Elijah Peterson, Senior: Had significant reps last season as a Junior.

DL Jacobe Cherry, Junior: Great speed for a lineman that is 6-foot-3 and weighs around 310 pounds.

DL Saili Peau, Senior: Expect him to be a starter this season.

DL Kole Cronin, Senior: Returns after being named 2024 Northern Region Defensive Lineman of the Year.

DL/LB TBD

MLB Marley Spuhler, Senior: Marley checks all the boxes of a Team Captain, and he is one of the best defenders in the state. He was also responsible for 96 total tackles last season while adding 19.5 TFLs and seven sacks.

MLB Spencer Schmitt, Senior: Two-year starter who is one of the strongest players on the team. He is physical and fast.

DB JT Thomas, Senior: Howren said “he is one of the best corners we’ve had, [he] ranks up there with DJ Jackson (who was All State at CB and WR in 2018). JT is a great athlete.

DB Nate Simmons, Senior: Nate can do it all as he moves from Safety to Corner this year. He is another great athlete for us.

S Amir McGruder, Senior: Great leader on defense, smart, great football IQ. Amir can get everyone in the right position [for] each play. McGruder was responsible for 67 tackles, two sacks, and an interception last season.

S Demari Stacker, Sophomore: Will push to be a two-way starter for us. Demari has shown the ability to play a violent brand of football.

K/P Kyle Nelson, Senior: Hard worker, puts kickoffs into the back of the end zone.

K Ryder Scarlett, Junior: Ryder has had a great offseason, going to many camps and taking first at most of them.

LS Kaedyn Stephan, Senior: Has attended many national camps and has ranked with the best in the nation.

KR/PR JT Thomas, Senior: Expect dynamic plays from Thomas in the return game this season.

Season Schedule:

Aug. 15 at McQueen

Aug. 22 at St. Mary’s

Aug. 29 vs. Rocklin (Calif.)

Sep. 6 vs. Pittsburg (Calif.)

Sep. 12 vs. Reno

Sep. 26 at Galena

Oct. 3 vs. Douglas

Oct. 17 at Reed

Oct. 24 vs. Spanish Springs

Oct. 30 vs. Damonte Ranch

J. Ray Dockter has been covering high school sports since 2022. If you have a story worth telling, let him know via Twitter/X @J_RayDoc.