Video: Micah Bowens junior highlights
See the Bishop Gorman quarterback as he leads the Gaels toward their 11th straight state title.
With 10 straight Nevada Class 4A titles under its belt, Bishop Gorman figures to comprise the bulk of the Preseason Nevada All-State Football Teams presented by Suddenlink by Altice, but players from Desert Pines, Liberty and Faith Lutheran also make their mark on this year's squad.
The Nevada preseason team is part of a series of all-state teams MaxPreps is releasing prior to the start of the 2019 high school football season.
California and
Arizona were previously released and we've got eight more coming up until Aug. 28.
First Team Offense
Miliki Matavao, Liberty
File photo by Jann Hendry
QB — Micah Bowens, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) | Sr. | 6-0 | 195
In
leading the Gaels to a state championship, Bowens earned Southwest
League offensive MVP honors while throwing for 2,770 yards and 29
touchdowns while also rushing for 927 yards and 15 scores. A first team
all-state selection. He's committed to Penn State.
QB — Koy Riggin, Foothill (Henderson) | Sr. | 6-0 | 170
Riggin
was the Southeast League's offensive MVP after throwing for 2,620 yards
and 22 touchdowns and was a second team All-State pick.
RB — Ikaika Ragsdale, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) | Sr. | 6-0 | 213
The
third-leading rusher for the Gaels last year, Ragsdale ran for 676
yards on 119 carries with 11 touchdowns. He's ranks No. 5 in the state
among recruits in the Class of 2020 by 247 Sports.
RB — Jordan Norwood, Cimarron-Memorial (Las Vegas) | Sr. | 5-8 | 165
Norwood
made the All-State second team after rushing for 1,463 yards and 16
touchdowns. Named to the All-Northwest League first team.
WR — Rome Odunze, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) | Sr. | 6-3 | 200
One of the top recruits in Nevada, according to 247 Sports, he grabbed 60 passes for 1,347 yards and 15 touchdowns and made the All-State first team.
WR — Jordan Dudick, Spanish Springs (Sparks) | Sr. | 6-4 | 175
An All-State first team selection and an All-Northern Region pick, Dudick caught 59 passes for 1,075 yards and 13 touchdowns.
TE — Moliki Matavao, Liberty (Henderson) | Jr. | 6-6 | 240
All-State as a sophomore, Matavao is one of Nevada's top recruits for 2021 by 247 Sports after catching 15 passes for 280 yards and four touchdowns.
OL — Joey Wright, Bishop Manogue (Reno) | Sr. | 6-6 | 297
According to 247 Sports, Wright is ranked No. 6 overall among seniors in Nevada and he's the top offensive tackle. He has committed to play at Southern California.
OL — Hayden Engel, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) | Sr. | 6-5 | 275
Ranked as one of the state's top linemen by 247 Sports, Engel earned All-State honorable mention as a junior.
OL — Tia Savea, Desert Pines (Las Vegas) | Jr. | 6-5 | 240
The No. 3 player in the Class of 2021 in Nevada by 247 Sports, Savea ranks No. 17 in the nation at his position for the junior class.
OL — Jared Eckhart-Davis, Spring Valley (Las Vegas) | Sr. | 6-5 | 315
The Grizzlies' top returning player was a first-team tackle on last year's All-Southwest League team.
OL — Alofaletauia Maluia, Liberty (Henderson) | Sr. | 6-2 | 250
Ranked by the Southern Nevada Coaches Association as one of the top players to watch in 2019, Maluia earned All-Southeast League first team honors as a junior.
AP — Darnell Washington, Desert Pines (Las Vegas) | Sr. | 6-7 | 261
Ranked as the top player in the country by 247 Sports at athlete, Washington is a three-sport standout at Desert Pines, winning a state championship in basketball and a shot put championship in track and field. Considering Alabama and Georgia.
K — Easton Jones, Arbor View (Las Vegas) | Sr. | 5-11 | 155
The top returning field goal kicker booted seven through the uprights last year including a long of 44 yards. He also averaged 34.5 yards per punt.
First Team Defense
Desert Pines linemen Braezhon Ross and Gabriel Lopez
File photo by Chris Trim
DL — Jonathan Michael Pickett Jr., Desert Pines (Las Vegas) | Sr. | 6-3 | 240
The defensive line at Desert Pines should be stellar this year with Darnell Washington, Gabriel Lopez, Braezhon Ross and Pickett. Ranked No. 7 in the state by 247 Sports, Pickett is ranked No. 60 in the nation at the position.
DL — Gabriel Lopez, Desert Pines (Las Vegas) | Sr. | 6-3 | 227
The Northeast League defensive MVP as a junior, Lopez was a constant presence in opponent's backfield as he had 13 sacks and 23 tackles for loss to go with 51 tackles.
DL — Tai Tuinei, Arbor View (Las Vegas) | Sr. | 6-3 | 260
A first team All-Northwest League selection as a junior, Tuinei has committed to play at UNLV.
DL — Braezhon Ross, Desert Pines (Las Vegas) | Jr. | 6-1 | 266
Look for Ross to be among the top defensive linemen in the nation for the next two years. According to 247 Sports, Ross is the No. 4-rated player in the state of Nevada for the Class of 2021 and he's the No. 23 defensive lineman in the nation.
LB — Jackson LaDuke, Spanish Springs (Sparks) | Sr. | 6-3 | 220
LaDuke made the All-State first team and was an All-Northern Region selection after posting 101 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and seven sacks. He'll play at Oregon next year.
LB — Hunter Kaupiko, Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas) | Sr. | 6-0 | 225
After
racking up 113 tackles, including 19 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks,
Kaupiko earned All-Northwest League first team honors and was an All-State first team selection.
LB — Vai Kaho, Bishop Manogue (Reno) | Sr. | 6-1 | 209
Kaho was everywhere on defense for Miners last year, posting 81 tackles with 14 tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception, two fumble recoveries and two passes defended. He's ranked as the No. 8 prospect in Nevada by 247 Sports.
LB — Dahlin Mesake, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) | Sr. | 6-3 | 230
Originally from Liberty (Henderson), Mesake transferred to Bishop Gorman last year. After committing to BYU following his sophomore season, Mesake withdrew his commitment in the spring.
DB — Lincoln Tuioti-Mariner, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) | Sr. | 6-1 | 203
A first team All-Southwest League pick last year, Tuioti-Mariner racked up 32 tackles and had an interception to go with five passes defended.
DB — Donte Bowers Jr., Liberty (Henderson) | Sr. | 5-10 | 165
One of the top defensive back recruits in Nevada, Bowers had three interceptions last year and made the All-Southeast League second team.
DB — Brock Richardson, Churchill County (Fallon) | Sr. | 5-8 | 165
A
Class 3A All-State first team pick as a receiver and a defensive back,
Richardson caught 47 passes for 1,093 yards and 14 touchdowns as a
junior.
AP — Gerick Robinson, Centennial (Las Vegas) | Jr. | 5-10 | 150
One of the top return men in the state last year, Robinson earned All-State honors as a sophomore. He had two kickoff returns for scores and a punt return for a touchdown last year. He also caught 44 passes for 565 yards and three touchdowns.
P — Byron Viloria, Liberty (Henderson) | Sr. | 5-10 | 180
The top returning punter in Nevada, Viloria averaged 40.4 yards per kick as a junior
Second Team Offense
Tristan Szabo, Spanish Springs
File photo by Jason Weed
QB — Tristan Szabo, Spanish Springs (Sparks) | Jr. | 6-0 | 160The
leading passer in the state for the Class of 2021, Szabo threw for
2,308 yards and 25 touchdowns while earning all-league honors.
QB — Drew Scolari, Bishop Manogue (Reno) | Jr. | 6-2 | 175
Playing in the same backfield as a 3,000-yard rusher, Scolari threw for 2,077 yards and 27 touchdowns.
RB — Christian Vaughn, Desert Oasis (Las Vegas) | Sr. | 5-10 | 200
Vaughn
is the leading returning rusher in Nevada after gaining 1,648 yards on
252 carries with 22 touchdowns. He made first team All-Southwest League
as a junior.
Madison
rushed for 864 yards on 110 carries with 10 touchdowns as a sophomore
last year and earned second team all-league honors.
WR — Kyle McNamara, Damonte Ranch (Reno) | Sr. | 5-9 | 170
Caught 59 passes for 1,060 yards and 15 touchdowns from his brother Cade with both landing on the first team All-State team.
WR — Peyton Thornton, Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas) | Sr. | 6-3 | 225
An All-Northwest League first team selection, Thornton caught 45 passes for 788 yards and seven touchdowns last year.
TE — Max Kelly, North Tahoe (Tahoe City, Calif.) | Sr. | 6-5 | 205
Kelly helped North Tahoe to one of its best finishes in a decade by catching 20 passes for 312 yards and four touchdowns. He was a second team All-Northern 2A League selection.
OL — Brandon Cuevas, Desert Oasis (Las Vegas) | Sr. | 6-4 | 265
Cuevas returns to solidify the offensive line and was a second team All-Southwest League selection as a junior.
OL — Riley Danielson, Coronado (Henderson) | Sr. | 6-2 | 335
Danielson joins A.J. Maluia as the top returning linemen in the Southeast League after earning first team all-league honors as a junior.
OL — Jackson Pancheri, Foothill (Henderson) | Sr. | 6-4 | 255
Pancheri is the top returning lineman for Foothill, earning second team All-Southeast League honors last year.
OL — Garrett Vea, Liberty (Henderson) | Sr. | 6-2 | 285
Vea joins A.J. Maluia to give the Patriots one of the best offensive lines in the Southeast League. Vea earned second team all-league honors last year.
OL — Joe Brown, Desert Pines (Las Vegas) | Sr. | 6-3 | 320
One of the biggest offensive linemen in Nevada, Brown anchors the line after earning second team all-league honors last year.
AP — Lonenoa Faoa, Liberty (Henderson) | Sr. | 6-1 | 224
Considered the state's top dual-threat quarterback by 247 Sports, Faoa threw for 947 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior.
K — Benny Marshall, Damonte Ranch | Jr. | 6-0 | 169
Marshall led the state in extra points as a sophomore, booting 84-of-89 attempts. He also added one field goal.
Second Team Defense
Bryan Certain, Bishop Gorman
File photo by Jann Hendry
DL — Fatafehi Vailea, Desert Pines (Las Vegas) | Jr. | 6-2 | 290
Another stellar lineman for Desert Pines, Vailea is ranked as the No. 7 prospect in Nevada by 247 Sports for the Class of 2021.
DL — Tofa Wilson, Foothill (Henderson) | Sr. | 6-1 | 200
One of the sack leaders in the state last year, Wilson had nine sacks, 14 tackles for loss and 44 tackles while earning all-league second team honors.
DL — Thomas Lane IV, Centennial (Las Vegas) | Sr. | 6-3 | 250
Lane racked up 44 tackles and two sacks and found a spot on the All-Northwest League first team.
DL — Blaze Homalon, Desert Pines (Las Vegas) | Sr. | 5-10 | 250
Is there a better defensive line in the state of Nevada than the one at Desert Pines? Homalon, a team captain this year and an all-league first team pick as a junior, gives Desert Pines five preseason All-State defensive linemen.
LB — Bryan Certain, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) | Sr. | 5-10 | 205
A first team All-Southwest pick as a junior, Certain led the Gaels in tackles with 81 and added two interceptions.
LB — Bam Amina, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) | Sr. | 6-0 | 205
The appropriately named linebacker hit opponents hard last year for 73 tackles and two sacks while earning second team All-State honors.
LB — Zephaniah Maea, Liberty (Henderson) | Jr. | 6-1 | 230
A first team selection on the All-Southeast League team, Mea ranks as the No. 5 player in the Class of 2021 by 247 Sports.
LB — Iopu Tauili'ili, Chaparral (Las Vegas) | Sr. | 6-4 | 205
The team's quarterback and leading rusher last year, Tauili'ili is also one of the state's top returning linebackers and is ranked No. 18 player in the state by 247 Sports.
DB — Tyler Estabrook, Truckee (Calif.) | Sr. | 5-8 | 165
A Class 3A All-State selection, Estabrook was a force on the Truckee defense with two interceptions and 46 tackles.
DB — Anthony Myles, Legacy (North Las Vegas) | Sr. | 5-11 | 170
An all-league choice as a junior, Myles had 99 total tackles at free safety last year and also had four interceptions.
DB — Lehi Ausage, Liberty (Henderson) | 6-2 | 175
A second team All-Southeast League pick as a junior, Ausage had 28 tackles and two interceptions.
AP — Michael Jackson, Desert Pines (Las Vegas) | Jr. | 6-0 | 191
A multi-talented receiver in the class of 2021, Jackson is receiving offers from Pac-12 and Big-10 schools and is ranked among the top players in the state by 247 Sports.
P — Dennis Perez, Chaparral (Las Vegas) | Sr. | 5-11 | 160
An all-league selection, Perez averaged 39 yards per punt last year and also booted four field goals with a long of 50 yards.