Wildcats minimize mistakes to rout Skyhawks

The goal for Las Vegas High’s ninth-ranked football team was to minimize mistakes.

The visiting Wildcats achieved that objective Friday in trouncing Silverado, 49-16.

Trevor Swenson completed 18 of 29 passes for 259 yards and four touchdowns to lead Las Vegas, which scored on its first possession and never looked back.

“A few weeks back, we put together some good spurts,” said Wildcats coach James Thurman, whose team limited its turnovers to a second-half interception. “But we kept shooting ourselves in the foot with too many mistakes. Our goal since then has been to get better each week, and I’m very excited about where we’re going.”

Kode Mwirigi, who had seven receptions for 75 yards and two TDs, scored on a 28-yard pass from Swenson midway through the first quarter. Teammate Elijah Hicks, who logged 11 carries for 138 yards and two TDs, followed with a 49-yard scoring sprint four minutes later to make it 14-0.

Though Silverado (3-5, 1-2 Northeast) scored on a safety when Las Vegas was flagged for a second-quarter hold in its own end zone, the Wildcats (5-3, 3-0) got back on track with a TD pass from Swenson to Zachary Loveland and another to Mwirigi to lead 28-2 at halftime.

The defense forced three Skyhawks fumbles, while Loveland had another TD reception in the third quarter, and Hicks and Jovon Seals ran for second-half scores.

“We asked the kids to execute,” said Thurman, whose squad racked up 431 yards of offense. “And they did. They played well tonight.”

Vernon Jackson scored on a 1-yard plunge in the third quarter and a 9-yard run in the fourth to lead Silverado, finishing with 193 yards on 42 carries.