2014 Las Vegas Football Capsule

LAS VEGAS

Head coach: James Thurman, fourth season (21-11)

2013 record: 6-5 (3-2 Northeast League, third)

Returning lettermen (starters): 22 (eight offense, seven defense)

Base offensive set: Spread

Base defensive set: Even

Top offensive players: QB Trevor Swenson (Sr.); RB Elias Miller (Sr.); WR Sam Blackburn (Sr.)

Top defensive players: LB Jacob Littlefield (Sr.); DT Will Pierrot (Sr.); DT Dante Ortiz (Sr.); DB Kode Miwirigi (Sr.)

Top special teams players: K Astrid Catalan (Sr.)

Top newcomers: WR Montrell Davis (Sr.); DB Zach Loveland (Jr.)

Key losses: RB Andrew Moreland; WR Aaron Zanin-Banks; DT Dakota Pikyavit; DB Justin Taitague

Outlook: Swenson returns for his third year as starting quarterback, and he’s coming off a successful junior season where he passed for 2,638 yards and 28 TDs.

Most of the offense returns, but dynamic weapons and first team all-state picks Moreland and Zanin-Banks will be tough to replace.

Moreland rushed for 1,401 yards and 17 TDs and was the team’s second-leading receiver with 32 catches for 449 yards and four scores.

Zanin-Banks caught 72 passes for 1,1589 yards and 15 TDs.

Miller (483 rushing yards, 10 TDs) will take over at running back, and Blackburn is the top returning receiver (18 catches, 195 yards).

Massive twins Mark Anthony Gacutan and Mark Gil Gacutan return to lead the offensive line along with senior Frankie Valenzuela.

All-state linebacker Littlefield, who had 124 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks, will key the defense.

Pierrot (50 tackles, three sacks) and Ortiz (32 tackles) are back on the defensive line, and Miwirigi (three interceptions) keys the secondary.

Miwirigi also is expected to emerge as one of the team’s top receivers.

“We expect to compete for the league championship,” Thurman said. “We will need to improve every day, every rep and every game.”