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2016 Las Vegas Football Capsule

LAS VEGAS

League: Class 4A Northeast

Head coach: James Thurman, sixth season (33-20)

2015 record: 6-4 (2-2 Northeast League, third)

Returning lettermen: 20

Returning starters: Seven offense, six defense

Base offensive set: Spread

Base defensive set: Odd front

Top offensive players: RB Elijah Hicks (Jr.); RB DiQuan Brown (Jr.); OL Bryan Acosta (Sr.); K Ricardo Ortega (Sr.)

Top defensive players: LB Cruz Littlefield (Sr.); DL Romeo Gray (Sr.); DB Eric Williams (Sr.)

Key losses: LB Josh Perez; WR/DB Zach Loveland

Outlook: The Wildcats aren’t quite the power they once were when they captured seven Sunrise Region titles in the span of eight seasons. But realignment means that the Wildcats certainly should contend for the league title.

The other four teams in the Northeast combined to go 8-29 last season, and only one of them made the postseason.

Hicks gives Las Vegas a dynamic playmaker in the backfield. He rushed for 1,001 yards and 13 TDs last season, and also caught 20 passes for 361 yards and four TDs.

Brown (298 yards, 4 TDs) is another strong rushing option. The backs will see time on the field together, but with both also playing some defense this season, a rotation will be needed to keep players fresh.

Junior Zach Matlock and senior Ronnie Broadhead both saw time at quarterback last season and Thurman said they are battling for the position again. They combined to pass for 1,752 yards and 17 TDs.

Littlefield is a playmaking linebacker who led the team with 94 tackles.

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