2015 Las Vegas Football Capsule

LAS VEGAS

League: Division I Northeast

Head coach: James Thurman, fifth season (27-16)

2014 record: 6-5 (3-1 Northeast, third)

Returning lettermen: 12

Returning starters: Six offense, four defense

Base offensive set: Spread

Base defensive set: Even

Top offensive players: RB Elijah Hicks (So.); WR Raul Perez (Sr.); WR Zach Loveland (Sr.); WR Hanoi Rabago (Sr.)

Top defensive players: LB Cruz Littlefield (Jr.); LB Thomas Dorsey (Jr.)

Key losses: QB Trevor Swenson; LB Jacob Littlefield; DB Kode Mwirigi; DL Dante Ortiz

Outlook: The Wildcats have made 16 consecutive trips to the postseason, but haven't won a league title since 2010.

Still, Las Vegas always seems to be among the best teams in the Sunrise Region, and Thurman hopes this year is no exception.

Expect the offense to revolve around Hicks, who burst on to the scene, rushing for 849 yards and 10 TDs after stepping in as a freshman. He also was a solid receiver, catching 20 passes for 170 yards and a score.

Loveland (27 catches, 340 yards), Rabago (21 catches, 274 yards) and Perez (18 catches, 169 yards) give the Wildcats three solid, experienced receivers. But the team must find a replacement for three-year starting quarterback Swenson, who passed for 2,009 yards and 13 TDs as a senior.

The defense also must find a way to plug gaps and replace a trio of all-state picks: Jacob Littlefield (Northeast Defensive MVP, 83 tackles), Mwirigi (11 interceptions) and Ortiz (13 sacks).

Cruz Littlefield was the team's second-leading tackler as a sophomore with 78, and showed the same nose for the ball as Jacob, an Air Force recruit.

"The Wildcats hope to continue the tradition of competing for the Northeast and Sunrise Region titles," Thurman said. "That's always our goal."