The game Friday night at Damonte Ranch had a little of everything. A safety? No, it had two safeties. How about a pick six, an interception returned for a touchdown? Yes, two of those. How about the old hook-and-ladder play where the quarterback completes a pass and the player catching the ball then laterals it to another offensive player? Yes, on a fourth down to increase the degree of difficulty. How about one of the biggest trophies, up for grabs, in all of high school sports? Yes, the Cross Saw was up for grabs. Homecoming floats, cheerleaders, bands, and dance? Yes, yes, yes, and yes!
Prior to kickoff, Damonte Ranch honored their senior football players and cheerleaders. The football team has 16 seniors and the cheer team eight.
DRFP seniors: Tyler Clark, Hayden Karam, Maurice Coleman, Mason Reasoner, Landon Baker, Christian Iacoboni, Cade Martin, Jesse Dessert, Sydney Wright, Cade Rodahoffer, Jordan Francisco, Ben Larsen, Fox Noel, Henry Bonk, Caleb Wood, and Ilex Garcia.
DRHS Cheer Seniors: Maddy Kopecki, Olivia Williams, Hailey Verness, Madyson Schnase, Jake Sanchez, Sofia Nielsen, Haley Carderelli, and Abigail Avila
After the senior festivities, Damonte received the opening kickoff, marched down the field, and it was senior running back Mason Reasoner finishing the drive off with a four-yard rushing touchdown, 7-0 Mustangs with 9:57 to go in the first quarter. Damonte’s next score came in the form of a safety making the score 9-0. On the ensuing possession, Damonte faced a fourth and long situation which the Mustangs converted with a hook and ladder play. Junior running back Cameron Rodriguez scored from six yards out making the score 16-0 with 5:14 remaining in the first quarter, which was the score going into the second quarter.
The Mustangs opened the scoring in the second quarter when junior quarterback Cooper Anderson found Maurice Coleman from 10 yards out making it 23-0. Landon Baker then secured a second safety for the Mustangs, 25-0. Anderson completed a pass to Rodriguez, which Rodriguez turned into another touchdown, 32-0 with 6:56 to go in the first half. Mason Reasoner turned an interception into a touchdown, a 60-yard scoring play with 4:47 to go in the half, making the score 39-0, which triggered a running clock. Michael Venezia, the team’s leading tackler, also turned an interception into a score with 3:28 to go, making the halftime score 46-0.
Halftime was amazing with performances by the three-time USA Cheer National Champion Damonte Ranch Stunt and Cheer team performing before the Damonte Ranch Performing Arts Center’s Dance Team performed. Following the Dance Team, the Homecoming festivities got underway with the floats and the introduction of the Homecoming Court. Homecoming was circus themed, and all very well done.
Following the halftime activities, the second half was a quick affair with a running clock, the Grizzlies did score and complete the two-point conversion making the final score 46-8. Following the game, the Cross Saw was awarded to the Damonte Ranch Mustangs.
5A NORTH STANDINGS
With just one week of regular season action remaining, here are the 5A North Standings.
1) McQueen, 5-1 league, 6-1 overall, at Galena this week
2) Bishop Manogue, 5-1 league, 5-2 overall; hosting DRHS this week
3) Damonte Ranch, 4-1 league; 5-3 overall; at Bishop Manogue
4) Reno High, 3-2 league, 5-3 overall, hosting Reed
5) Carson, 3-3 league, 3-4 overall; game to be determined or idle
6) Spanish Springs, 2-3 league, 4-5 overall, hosting Douglas
7) Reed, 2-4 league, 2-4 overall, at Reno
8) Douglas, 1-5 league, 1-6 overall; at SSHS
9) Galena, 0-5 league, 0-8 overall; hosting McQ
With the playoffs just a week away, it would appear the Lancers have the number one seed tied up and would be hosting the number eight seed. With Damonte visiting Bishop Manogue, both teams have a home playoff game secured, but seeding is at stake. The middle of the standings could only be described as a logjam if Reed beats Reno High School Friday night. If Reed wins, the Huskies would be 3-3 in league along with Carson (no game on their schedule this week), Reed, and Spanish Springs (If SSHS defeats Douglas). Seeding would then go to tie breakers:
1) League record
2) Head-to-head record
3) Criteria like winning percentage of each team’s beaten opponents, win/loss record versus common opponents, point differential, and so on.
The 5A North playoffs will begin on THURSDAY, October 28th, with seeds 1-4 hosting seeds 5-8. The second round will be played on Friday, November 5th, higher seeds hosting. The 5A North Title Game will be played on Friday, November 12th, highest seed hosting. All games are listed as 6:00 PM start times on the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association website.
UP NEXT
Friday night, 7:00 PM, at Bishop Manogue
Get there early, you will not want to miss kickoff in what has become the North’s must-see game every season. It is a chess match every time Damonte Ranch Head Coach Shawn Dupris and Bishop Manogue Head Coach Earnie Howren face off.
Logan Howren is an outstanding basketball player and a dangerous quarterback for the Miners. The junior leads the team in passing and has a number of targets, each capable of going the distance, each time they touch the ball. The Miners leading rusher is Joe Hill. On defense, the Miners are giving up just 13 points per league contest. Donovan Dericco leads the defense with 46 tackles and the unit has piled up 15 sacks this season.
ABOUT YOUR AUTHOR
Lynn Ault covers Damonte Ranch athletics for Battle Born Preps. Both of his kids graduated from Damonte, his son played football and his daughter basketball and cheer. His wife, A’Laina, is the head of the math department. Lynn is also the youth pastor for Hope Community, a church located in south Reno.