Top 25 Players to Watch

1 OL Adonis Williams Damonte Ranch (6’3 275)-An athletic big man with great balance

2 DT Junior Pousima Hug (6’1 310)-Interior run stuffer with great lower body power

3 S Dru Jacobs Damonte Ranch (6’2 180)-Outstanding athlete with big play skills

4 RB Tre Bussey Reed (5’11 195)-Tackle breaking runner & highly productive defender

5 ILB Reagan Robertson Douglas (6’1 240)-Heavy hitter that leaves it all on the field

6 LB Brandon Kaho Reno (6’3 215)-Athletic junior linebacker with great tackling skill

7 RB Abel Carter Carson (5’10 180)-Produce 1594-yards & 18-tds as a sophomore

8 CB Colton Allen Spanish Springs (5’10 160)-Speedy corner with good ball skills

9 OL Stein Otuafi Reed (6’3 270)-Physical lineman with great hands and skill

10 LB Matt Garcia Reed (6’0 200)-Strong linebacker that diagnoses plays quickly

11 QB Cade McNamara Damonte Ranch (6’1 170)-Passed for 2042-yds & 17-tds as a Soph

12 OL/DL P.J. Braun North Valley (6’6 290)-Prototype big man that can be a wrecking crew

13 LB Justin Tschetter Carson (6’0 215)-Physical linebacker that racked up stops as a junior

14 WR Robert Ferrel Reed (5’7 150)-Totalled 1005-yds & 18-tds as a junior in the slot

15 S Bryan Madison Galena (6’1 165)-Highly productive with 94-tackles & 2 int last season

16 QB Korbin Markum Spanish Springs (6’4 185)-Passed for 1453-yds & 10-tds as a junior

17 DE Leo Valdivia Reed (5’11 230)-Dropped the QB 7-times as a junior defensive end

18 LB Sam Moala Hug (6’2 215)-Racks up tackles with good physicality

19 WR Austin Cadenhead Spanish Springs (5’10 155)-Big play pass catcher with soft hands

20 LB Andrew Berreyesa Reno (5’11 190)-Strong & aggressive player on either side of the ball

21 DE Sheldon Miller Carson (6’1 245)-Logged 5 sacks as a junior off the edge

22 RB Jake Berger Galena (5’9 185)-Totalled 1315-yds & 11-tds as a productive junior

23 DB Warren Petteway Hug (5’11 170)-Physical defender out of the secondary

24 QB Derek Kline Galena (6’5 205)-Passed for 1166-yds & 12-scores as a sophomore

25 RB Jon York McQueen (5’10 175)-Strong & speedy back that can produce

High Desert Preview

1. Reed

A power program of the North, the Raiders will be a tough team to knock off the pedestal. They lose an outstanding senior class but a new group is ready to emerge this season.

Taking over as quarterback will be Cameron Emerson, a game manager with toughness and intelligence at the position. He will benefit by having the state's most physical running back carrying the load as Tre Bussey takes full time duties. The Raiders also have the top returning duo of playmakers at receiver with Robert Ferrel and Michael Spivek leading the way. With a great front line, it will be extremely difficult to slow down the Raider offense once again this season.

Defensively, Bussey joins standouts DE Leo Valdivia and LB Matt Garcia on a rebuilt unit. With a great program that does a great job filling holes, the Raiders should have effective defense with Valdivia giving the program a leader in the trenches

2. Reno

Adding Damonte Ranch quarterback Drake Vestbie to compete with Nick Clayton, the Huskies should be able to have a bit more balance on offense this season even with the loss of a physical senior class. Andrew Berreyesa and Brandon Kaho will be looking to fill the hole in the ground game that should benefit from their size and athleticism. Vestibie and Clayton are also capable of carrying the ball allowing some versatility on offense

Berreyesa and Kaho are also the key to what should be another excellent year on defense. Both player have excellent range and the ability to impact the course of the game. With impressive depth and an athletic defensive backfield, the Huskies should remain among the best defensive team in Nevada this season.

3. Hug

After a surprise 2014 season, the Hawks couldn’t gain a win in 2015 but the program should be much more effective in 2016.

Offensively, the Hawks should build around the play of running back Jalen Williams with Shayne Davis taking over at quarterback quarterback. With a physical front line bolstered by the addition of Junior Pousima from Galena, the Hawks should be able to create enough running room to move the ball effectively.

Pousima is also a major impact player on the defensive side of the ball and should make the program much tougher to move the ball against. Linebackers Sam Moala and Caleb Tau are impact player that will benefit from the presence of Pousima in the trenches. Williams will combine with Warren Petteway in the defensive backfield to frame a very effective third level of defense.

4. Spanish Springs

With the best returning 4A quarterback in the North in Korbin Marcum, the Cougars should be a contender to slip into the playoffs this season. He will benefit greatly from the playmaking receiver Austin Cadenhead and the expected emergence of Colton Allen. The Cougars won’t beat you up on the ground but they should have a strong passing game should allow more running room this season.

Defense is where the Cougars shows a weakness as they lack the overall athletes and physicality to dominate top programs week-in-and-week-out. Collectively they should be solid and Allen is one of the top defensive backs in the North.

5. McQueen

The Lancers are no longer the depth laden power of old but they are still a well coached team with plenty of athletes and a high level of pride.

Running back Jon York is one of the area’s top threats out of the backfield with the wiggle to make plays despite a limited offensive line. The offense will also benefit from the return of quarterback Joey Cox and athlete Zach Ball as returning threats.

Defensively, the Lancers will look for athleticism to make up for the lack of bulk they will feature this season. Lineman Josh Norris is a good anchor in the middle that will key the program’s ability to stuff the run

6. North Valleys

The Panthers aren’t a talent laden team but they have a great two-way lineman to build around in senior P.J. Braun. Braun will set the tone on the up front and t will be the key to the team on either side of the ball.

Offensively, quarterback Matt Sneed is the top returning threat that will be looking to spark more production among an unheralded group of offensive skill players.

Defensively the team will be looking to make the most of what they have available with a solid group of linebackers.

Sierra Preview

1. Carson

The Senators have been the top team in the Sierra League for half a decade and they have the players in place on offense to stay on top.

Returning as the team's top weapon is junior running back Abel Carter who topped 1100-yards and 11 touchdowns last season. He will be joined by athlete Greg Wallace and quarterback Jace Keema on what should be an explosive offense once again this season.

Linebacker Justin Tschetter and defensive end Sheldon Miller returns to lead a stingy defense. Miller should be one of the top pass rushers in the state as a senior and Tschetter can make plays sideline-to-sideline.

With an offense only matched by Reed, the Senators will be tough to beat once again as they look to represent the Sierra League to the Northern Championship once again this season.

2. Damonte Ranch

A team that will be looking to match the Senators in fire power will be the Mustangs of Damonte Ranch.

With star sophomore quarterback Cade McNamara returning to lead the offense, he should produce an explosive offense that can spread the field on Fridays. He gets a boost with the return of running back Cameron Sandoval and big man Adonis Williams in the trenches. The Mustangs can rule on the interior this season as they try to bounce back from a four win season.

On defense, safety Dru Jacobs, linebacker Ritchie Garcia, linebacker Robby Garlock, defensive end Anthony Parker and defensive tackle Brady Odom keys a rising defense. The Mustangs should be much more effective on both sides of the ball this season and that makes them a threat to unseat Carson.

3. Galena

Back in contention, the Grizzlies are another Northern contender in the Sierra Division this season after a 7-4 finish last year. The most balanced team in the Sierra, they have a team that should be ready for battle.

Returning starters in junior quarterback Derek Kline and senior running back Jake Berger should allow the offense to be ready to go from game one. Kline could be one of the top 3 passer in the state in the 2018 class and Berger returns after rushing for over 1100-yards as a junior. With a physical line up front,the duo should be very productive on the field this season.

Safety Bryan Madison is the is the top returning player on what should develop into a very solid defense. The Grizzlies have good team speed and have shown a knack for developing pass rushers.

4. Bishop Manogue

Manogue doesn’t have the experience and standout to make a real run this season but they should be competitive on the football field with a good shot at grabbing the league's final playoff spots.

Heavy on young players, the program will be looking for new star on both sides of the ball to fill need on the field. Running back Anthony Reviglio, lineman Nikko Hamlin and linebacker Carter Wilkerson will be the returning player to build around this season.

5. Douglas

The Tigers aren’t like a high end contender but they have a team that will be willing to will play to the final whistle on the football field. Linebacker Reagan Robertson is worth a trip to the game on Friday nights and he will be looking others to step up to increase the program’s defensive production.