It took 12 weeks of regular-season play to have a turnover-free AP Top 25. For the first time in 2021 all the teams that were ranked in The Associated Press college football poll presented by Regions Bank last week stayed ranked this week. There were some significant changes near the top of the poll Sunday though, with Ohio State moving past both Alabama and Cincinnati into second behind No. 1 Georgia.
The “2021 NIAA / One Nevada Class 5A/4A/3A/2A State Football Championships, presented by the Las Vegas Raiders,” will be played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Thursday.
States will have a choice of 12, 13 or 14 weight classes for both boys and girls competition in high school wrestling, effective with the 2023-24 season. This will be the first separate weight classes established for girls in high school wrestling, and it marks the first time that state associations will have a choice in the number of weight classes.
The fall season for the Nevada High School Rodeo Association is coming to a close, as the competitors were in Alamo on the weekend of Nov. 5-7. Once again, the local junior high and high school rodeo clubs turned in strong performances. Humboldt County’s Billy DeLong took home the top spot in the boys cutting average with 147 points, winning both performances with 23 and 74 points, respectively.
Greg Bell had 16 carries for 104 yards and Matt Araiza kicked a 35-yard field goal with 1:21 to play to help No. 22 San Diego State beat Nevada 23-21 on Saturday night.
The PCHS Mustang wrestling team lost an entire season due to Covid. To say they’re excited to begin a new one would be an understatement. “We haven’t had a practice yet so we aren’t sure how many kids we will have; probably about 10,” said coach Mike Brooks. He held the first practice on Monday, Nov. 15.
The College Football Playoff selection committee’s assessment of Oklahoma ended up looking spot on. The number of unbeaten teams in major college football dropped to three after the Sooners were manhandled by No. 18 Baylor, one of two victories Saturday for remaining Big 12 teams over Southeastern Conference-bound flagship schools. No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Cincinnati and No. 15 UTSA have not lost yet.
The Pershing County boys basketball team is laser-focused on getting to the playoffs this season. Last Saturday 19 players showed up for tryouts, with some out of town for the long weekend. “It was a good showing and everyone worked hard for two hours. We have a goal to make playoffs for the first time in awhile,” said coach Jesse Canchola, a PCHS grad (Class of 2002).
For the third time in his career, Nevada junior Brandon Talton has been named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented by the Orange Bowl, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced recently. Talton is one of 20 semifinalists, and one of five from the Mountain West, who was included on the list for the 2021 award, which is given annually to the nation’s top place-kicker.
Nevada quarterback Carson Strong was named to The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Top 10 as announced by the organization. Strong is the only quarterback from the Mountain West Conference in the Top 10. The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation and presenting partner, A. O. Smith, announce the Top 10 candidates for this year’s Golden Arm Award.
Cameron Friel threw for 227 yards and two touchdowns, Charles Williams became UNLV’s all-time leading rusher, and the Rebels beat New Mexico 31-17 on Saturday night for coach Marcus Arroyo’s first victory with the program.
Brandon Talton kicked a 45-yard field goal with :03 seconds left in the game and Nevada used two defensive touchdowns to fend off San Jose State 27-24 in Mountain West Conference play on Saturday. Nevada (7-2, 4-1) got on the scoreboard first when Jordan Lee caused a Tyler Nevens fumble that was picked up by Daiyan Henley and returned 55 yards for a touchdown.
The Pershing County High School football season ended with a 49-6 loss against Yerington on Friday in the first round of the NIAA 2A State Championships in Yerington.