Damonte Ranch survives thriller in Fresno heat, McQueen on the move
The 4A North hierarchy is starting to establish itself heading into the third week of the prep football season.
Reno’s stout defensive put a strong effort on tape, blanking Able Carter and the Senators in Carson, 19-0. McQueen showed the week 1 romp over Susanville was no fluke, handling a Bishop Manogue team that was coming off a 60-point performance, 29-13.
The 4A North also improved on its 5-3 start against out-of-state competition, winning both games against non-Nevada schools on Friday night. Damonte Ranch survived in Fresno against Edison, 27-26, thanks to a late denial of a two-point conversion attempt. And Spanish Springs scored the final 28 on its way to a dominating 42-7 home win over Foothill (Palo Cedro, Calif.).
Bishop Manogue and Reno will attempt to build the 4A North’s record to 9-3 against out-of-state teams this weekend.
The Huskies go to Sacramento on Friday night to play a strong program in Sheldon (also named the Huskies). Both are off to 2-0 starts. The Miners host Henley (Klamath Falls, Ore.) on Saturday at noon. Manogue won last year’s meeting in the Pacific Northwest, 35-14.
To view how the rankings have progressed, click here.
1. Damonte Ranch Mustangs (2-0)
It wasn’t pretty, but it’s win.
Edison’s strong secondary that features a pair of Pac-12 commits held the Damonte Ranch passing attack to 127 yards on 32 attempts Friday night. The run game and the defense stepped up.
Junior Derrick Knoblack ran for 136 of the team’s 215 rushing yards on 16 touches and the defense turned away a would-be game-winning two-point conversion late to preserve the win in Fresno’s stifling heat. Damonte trailed 13-6 at the half and 13-12 going to the fourth quarter.
Last week: 1
2. Reed Raiders (2-0)
This one wasn’t pretty either.
Reed led the Tigers just 7-6 late in the third quarter before rattling off 27 straight points over the final 13 minutes. The offense wore down the Tigers late, but remained out of sync much of the game. One Reed player said after the game though, “I wouldn’t look too much into the score.”
We’ll see this week against Carson.
Reed’s defense continues to be dominant, but will be without one of its best players this week due to an ejection in the first quarter against Douglas.
Last week: 2
3. Reno Huskies (2-0)
Reno’s defense is just showing off now.
The Huskies went to the state’s capital on Friday night and blanked the Senators, allowing just 128 yards of offense. Abel Carter was responsible for 97 of those (94 rushing, 3 receiving).
It was the first time Carter failed to reach the century mark since a regional tournament quarterfinal win his sophomore year – a span of 12 games. That game was also against Reno.
Last week: 3
4. McQueen Lancers (2-0)
It may be time to start thinking of the Lancers as a legitimate contender in the High Desert League.
McQueen stymied a much-improved Bishop Manogue team on Friday night, holding a quality opponent to two touchdowns for the second straight week.
We won’t get to further gauge the idle Lancers this week, but a telling two-game stretch looms with contests at home against Carson next week and at Damonte Ranch in week 5 waiting.
Last week: NA
5. Bishop Manogue Miners (1-1)
The talent and coaching are both there. But the ability to win meaningful games can’t simply be taught by Ernie Howren and his staff. It’s something the Miners will have to self-learn over the course of the season and Howren’s tenure in south Reno.
Bishop Manogue had the opportunity to prove its ascension is happening quicker than most would believe on Friday night. It could not build off the 60-point explosion at North Valleys a week prior, however, dropping a 29-13 ballgame at McQueen.
It was the first time a Howren-led offense was held to 13 points since Bishop Gorman eliminated Reed, at Reed, 41-13 in the 2015 state semifinals.
Last week: 4
Outside looking in: Carson Senators
Week 3 Schedule
Carson at Reed
Reno at Sheldon (Sacramento, Calif.)
Spanish Springs at Douglas
Hug at Damonte Ranch
North Valleys at Galena
Henley (Klamath Falls, Ore.) at Bishop Manogue, Saturday at noon
McQueen idle
4A North Standings
High Desert League
McQueen 2-0, 0-0
Reed 2-0, 0-0
Reno 2-0, 0-0
Spanish Springs 1-1, 0-0
North Valleys 0-1, 0-0
Hug 0-2, 0-0
Sierra League
Damonte Ranch 2-0, 0-0
Bishop Manogue 1-1, 0-0
Carson 1-1, 0-0
Galena 1-1, 0-0
Douglas 0-2, 0-0
Week 2 Scores
Damonte Ranch 27, Edison (Fresno, Calif.) 26
McQueen 29, Bishop Manogue 13
Reno 19, Carson 0
Reed 34, Douglas 6
Galena 41, Hug 0
Spanish Springs 42, Foothill (Palo Cedro, Calif.) 7
Week 1 Scores
Reed 38, Clayton Valley Charter (Concord, Calif.) 22
Damonte Ranch 46, Northgate (Walnut Creek, Calif.) 16
McQueen 38, Lassen (Susanville, Calif.) 14
Reno 44, Stagg (Stockton, Calif.) 7
Carson 14, Lewiston (Lewiston, Idaho) 13
Bishop Manogue 60, North Valleys 13
Rocky Mountain (Meridian, Idaho) 43, Spanish Springs 0
Rigby (Rigby, Idaho) 56, Douglas 32
Highland (Pocatello, Idaho) 36, Galena 10
Fallon 19, Hug 14
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