Battle Born Preps Pound for Pound Power Rankings
Hello, and welcome to our first edition of this season’s weekly power rankings. After completing our team previews for this upcoming season I needed to take a break from writing for a few weeks. With that being said, my break has found it’s conclusion and I am now re-energized and excited to dive into this week’s power rankings. Without further ado here we go…
Just missed: Elko Indians, McQueen Lancers, and Spring Creek Spartans
10. Wooster (2-0)
Last week: Won 34-0 at Sparks
This week: vs. Fernley, 7 PM
Roundup: The Colts are off to their best start since going 2-0 in 2018 after scoring dominant victories over Pershing County, by a score of 33-0, and Sparks, by a score of 34-0 last Thursday. The Colts defense has notched back-to-back shutouts to begin the season and their first real test will come against a Fernley team that lost 7-0 two weeks ago to Bishop Union (Bishop, Calif.) on a fumble recovery for a touchdown. This should be a good old-fashioned slugfest that could come down to the wire. Through two games the Colts have been pretty balanced offensively passing for 213 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 352 yards and five touchdowns.
9. Spanish Springs (0-2)
Last week: Lost 21-7 against Shadow Ridge (Las Vegas, Nev.)
This week: at Marin Catholic (Kentfield, Calif), Saturday, 5 PM
Roundup: The Cougars have arguably the most difficult non-league schedule in all of Northern Nevada. One thing is for sure, they don’t back down from a challenge. The Cougars trip to California this week will be no different as were beat handedly by Marin Catholic last season. Through two games this season the Cougars have passed for 291 yards and a pair of touchdowns while also rushing for 181 yards and a touchdown. They’ll need that output or better to score the upset victory of Marin Catholic this week.
8. Reno (1-1)
Last week: Won 35-10 against Northgate (Walnut Creek, Calif.)
This week: at Grant (Sacramento, Calif.), 7 PM
Roundup: The Huskies were lead dogs last week scoring Head Coach CJ Wintch his first Varsity victory en route to a 35-10 thumping of Northgate (Walnut Creek, Calif.). Senior Jackson Sellers ran for 174 yards and a touchdown, while racking up four tackles defensively for the Huskies. Sellers and Breck Worthen have combined for 404 rushing yards and three touchdowns in only two games this season as both are well on their way to rushing for 1,000 yards this season. Defensively Champ Notyce has accounted for 17 tackles and a forced fumble to this point in the season. A tough matchup against a good Grant (Sacramento, Calif.) team awaits and Grant will have revenge on their mind having fallen to the Huskies in Reno last season.
7. Galena (1-1)
Last week: Lost 28-23 at Yuba City (Calif.)
This week: vs. Churchill County, 7 PM
Roundup: Galena is coming off a road loss against Yuba City (Calif.) last week but will once again be looking to right the ship against a Northern 3A school that has every intention of knocking them off at home. Galena is currently averaging 23.5 points per game offensively and only allowing 14 points per game defensively on the heels of their shutout victory against Spring Creek to open the season two weeks ago. Junior QB Colson Kermode is the straw that stirs the drink for the Grizz. Through two games he is responsible for 620 yards of total offense to go along with three touchdowns. If the Grizz are to get back on track, Kermode will be the catalyst on their way to victory.
6. Douglas (2-0)
Last week: Won 14-9 against Elko
This week: at Spring Creek, 7 PM
Roundup: Don’t look now but the Tigers have won as many games the past two weeks as they had in the past two seasons. I, for one, am not surprised at the Tigers success so far this season. They have a coach that is committed to the program and bleeds black and orange, as well as numerous key contributors who have been playing varsity football since their sophomore year. It seems to be coming together at the exact right time for the boys of the Carson Valley. After defeating Elko last week, the Tigers will head out to Eastern Nevada to try their best at the Ruby Mountains sweep. The Tigers have averaged 27 points per game so far this season, so I expect they’ll put up some points tonight as well.
5. Churchill County (0-1)
Last week: On Bye
This week: at Galena, 7 PM
Roundup: The Greenwave, coming off a heartbreaking 23-16 loss to open the season against Reed, have had two weeks to prepare for the Grizzlies and they are more than capable of beating Galena if they are unprepared. In their game against Reed the Greenwave had a 58/42 split in their offensive play calling. For a team that likes to sling it around the yard, and get their athletes in space that is a really good balance that they displayed against a superb Reed defense in the season’s opening week. Seniors Bryce Adams and Brady Alves hooked up seven times for 68 yards and a touchdown with Alves also scoring on a pick-six against Reed. He’s a legit athlete and this team will not be intimidated playing “up” this week.
4. Reed (1-1)
Last week: Lost 55-9 at Del Oro (Loomis, Calif.)
This week: vs. Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas, Nev.), 7 PM
Roundup: A week after scoring a 23-16 victory over Churchill County at home, the Raiders went on the road and were sent home black-and-blue, having suffered a 55-9 defeat at the hands of Del Oro (Loomis, Calif.) last week. The good news is that the Raiders can turn the page on last week’s performance and prepare themselves for what is to come… first up it’s the Crusaders of Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas, Nev.) who are making the return trip to Northern Nevada having defeated the Raiders in Southern Nevada last year. Be on the lookout for RB Bronwyn Rios, who is averaging 8.6 yards per carry and 154.5 rushing yards per game in the early part of the season for the Raiders. Defensively Cooper Park has accounted for 25 tackles in two games.
3. Bishop Manogue (0-1)
Last week: Lost 30-14 at Jesuit (Carmichael, Calif.)
This week:
Roundup: Realistically if it weren’t for Mother Nature sending hurricane-style rain and lightning into the Las Vegas area over two weeks ago the Miners would more than likely be 1-1 instead of 0-1 but… as is the case in this scenario the Miners game against Las Vegas was canceled two weeks ago and they debuted last week against Jesuit (Carmichael, Calif.) to less than stellar returns. Offensively, WR Ben Scolari caught four passes for 72 yards and a touchdown while RB Cody Fleischmann rushed 16 times for 78 yards and a touchdown. DB Tony Caramella led the Miners defensively last week recording 13 tackles and a forced fumble while Salesi Manu accounted for four tackles, all of which were tackles for loss and three of which were sacks.
2. Truckee (2-0)
Last week: Won 38-8 against Colfax (Calif.)
This week: at Damonte Ranch, 7 PM
Roundup: The reigning 3A State Champion Truckee Wolverines will roll into south Reno for a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup on their current 11-game winning streak dating back to last season. In fact, the Wolverines have not lost in 364 calendar days. They know that every game they will get their opponents best shot and this evening’s game against Damonte Ranch will be no different. Truckee comes into the game averaging 36.5 points per game while piling up 568 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns to go along with 314 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. After going down 10-0 in the first 5:06 of their season Truckee has outscored their opponents 73-22 over the last seven-and-a-half quarters. They should be locked in this evening.
1. Damonte Ranch (2-0)
Last week: Won 42-7 at North Valleys
This week: vs. Truckee (Calif.), 7 PM
Roundup: No matter how you scratch it the Mustangs have been explosive in the early part of the season, having scored 51 and 42 points in their first two games respectively. I am a big believer in putting your players in position to gain confidence, scheduling winnable games and watching as momentum grows when those things are achieved. Coach Ty Gregg and his staff have done just that after going 3-7 last season. In their first two games the Mustangs have been galloping their way through opposing defenses racking up 619 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Yes, you read that right 619 YARDS and NINE TD’s. They have a three-headed monster in DJ Gonzalez-Brown (249 rushing yards, and four touchdowns), Kobe Craig (197 rushing yards, and two touchdowns) and Alan Limas (124 rushing yards, and two touchdowns) who are doing most of the Mustangs damage on the ground. You gotta stay disciplined against them or they will make you pay big time.
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