The Nevada high school football season begins Friday, and we release our weekly rankings for Northern Nevada prep football classes every Thursday. Here are this week’s rankings.
1. Bishop Manogue (1-0)
Previous placement: 1
Last week: Defeat Damonte Ranch 48-14
This week: vs. St. Mary’s (California), Saturday, 2 p.m.
In summary: The Miners picked up where they left off in 2023 in 2024. Newly-signed junior quarterback Brandon Mann threw for 185 yards and three touchdowns in his debut for the Miners. Manogue also ran for 137 yards and three touchdowns. Nathan Shannon collected the most yards with two touchdowns against the Mustangs, who also got a pick-six from Pele Masina and a near-pick-six from Joey Thomas III. Bishop Manogue faces a big challenge this week at St. Mary’s in Stockton.
2. Reeds (1-0)
Previous placement: 2
Last week: Beat Churchill County 38-7
This week: against Del Oro (California), Friday 7 p.m.
In summary: In the first half, Reed scored 35 of 38 points in a commanding win over Churchill County. Senior quarterback Nishaan Bajwa had a nearly 100 percent game, completing 10 of 11 pass attempts for 140 yards. Bajwa’s longest pass was a 30-yard touchdown to junior wideout Sean McGuire, who ripped the ball out of the hands of a Greenwave defender. It was a dominant message from Reed against a solid 3A team.
3. Spanish Springs (0-1)
Previous placement: 3
Last week: Lost to Simi Valley, 33-13
This week: At Shadow Ridge (Las Vegas), Friday, 6 p.m.
In summary: Spanish Springs faced one of the toughest opponents of any Northern 5A team in Week 1 in Simi Valley of Southern California. The Cougars were tied 7-7 at halftime before Simi Valley pulled away after halftime, scoring 26 points in the second half. Shadow Ridge, a 5A-II team from Las Vegas, will be a good test to see where Spanish Springs stands in the division. Shadow Ridge had a poor season in 2023, going 6-5, but was 20-5 the two years prior to that.
4. Galena (1-0)
Previous placement: 4
Last week: Defeat Spring Creek 42-7
This week: vs. Chavez (Stockton, California), Friday, 6:30 p.m.
In summary: Senior quarterback Colson Kermode started Galena’s 2024 season with a 35-point win over Spring Creek, throwing two touchdown passes to Matt Ritenhouse. He also ran for one himself. Kermode completed 14 of 22 passes for 175 yards, while Ritenhouse accounted for 102 yards (80 receiving, 22 running). The Grizzlies showed strong balance with more than 150 passing and rushing yards. Next up is Chavez (Calif.) High, which went 0-10 last season.
5. Truckee (0-0)
Previous placement: 6
Last week: N/A
This week: vs. Damonte Ranch, Saturday 1:30 p.m.
In summary: Josh Ivens’ team opens the season against 5A-III Damonte Ranch, with the Wolverines’ 22-game winning streak on the line. Truckee returns top receiver and rusher Joe Birnbaum and starting quarterback Jace Estabrook. Birnbaum scored 32 touchdowns last season, including 23 on the ground and nine receiving. Paul Ronzone set the Wolverines’ pace with 67 tackles (44 solo) and will return to lead a defense looking for three consecutive Class 3A state titles.
6. Douglass (1-0)
Previous placement: 5
Last week: Beat Fernley, 16-13
This week: at Elko, Friday 7pm
In summary: The Tigers drop one spot after a close win over 3A Fernley. Douglas traveled into Vaqueros territory but struggled to score points compared to last season. Jackson Ovard threw nine passes for 180 yards, including a 69-yard pass to junior running back Zachary Jackson. The running game of Jackson and senior Evan Youmans proved crucial as both scored a touchdown before Brenton Weston nailed a 31-yard walk-off field goal to clinch the win.
7. Fernley (0-1)
Previous placement: Not rated
Last week: Lost to Douglas, 16-13
This week: at Bishop Union (California), Friday, 7 p.m.
In summary: The 3A team battled 5A-II Douglas to the finish. The Vaqueros hosted the Tigers with a scoreless first half. Fernley had a chance to take a late lead but missed an extra point before Douglas won as time expired. Junior running back Keeshawn Love rushed for 145 yards on 18 carries. Junior quarterback Bryce Stephens had trouble connecting with his receivers but found ways to capitalize on the running game. The defense collected seven tackles for loss, four of them by Joey Machado.
8. Reno (0-0)
Previous placement: 8
Last week: N/A
This week: vs. Palo Verde (Las Vegas), Saturday afternoon
In summary: The Huskies didn’t play last week, so this is the first look we’re getting of Reno under new offensive coordinator Carson Strong, the two-time Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year in Nevada (2020 and 2021). Braylon Wilson will take command of the Huskies’ offense. Reno begins at home with a rare Saturday game against Palo Verde, a 5A-II team from Las Vegas that will provide a nice north-south litmus test to start the season.
9. Damonte Ranch
Previous ranking: 9
Last week: Lost to Bishop Manogue, 48-14
This week: vs. Truckee, Saturday 1:30 p.m.
In summary: The Mustangs were no match for Manogue, but they aren’t relegated after scoring two touchdowns against the top team in 5A-II. Damonte Ranch can take some positives from the game, but needs to get more out of its passing attack and limit turnovers. The rest of the schedule should be much more manageable, although this week’s challenge at two-time 3A champion Truckee won’t be easy. This is the most exciting game of the week among Northern Nevada schools.
10. McQueen
Previous placement: 10
Last week: Beat Hug, 46-0
This week: at Union Mine (El Dorado, California), 7:30 p.m.
In summary: No stats have been updated from last week’s game, but McQueen definitely stood out. It’s not easy to beat a team, but the Lancers did just that. Quarterback Cooper Craft proved to be indispensable to the Lancers’ offense, which will face a tougher test this week against Union Mine of El Dorado, Calif. The Diamondbacks went 9-3 last season and were ranked 378th in California, according to MaxPreps.
Eliminated: No. 7Elko
Nikki Pica is a reporter for Nevada Sports Net. If you have a story idea, you can email her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter at @NikkiPica27.
