Douglas faces key game against Wooster

The Douglas High football team now faces the task of moving ahead after a most impressive win.

Coming off a 41-8 rout over a talented Hug football team, the Tigers face another tough test when it travels to Wooster for an important Sierra League game at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

In other games this weekend, Galena will host Hug at 7:30 p.m. today in a nonleague game between two of Northern Nevada's top teams that should show where the clubs stand. Meanwhile, Fernley will travel to Spring Creek for a 7:30 p.m. game today and Dayton will travel to North Tahoe for a 1:30 p.m. game Saturday.

The Tigers (3-1, 2-0) will try to stay in first place in the Sierra League against Wooster (1-3, 1-0), which also has visions of contending for the Sierra League title. Wooster's three losses have come against the High Desert League's top teams (Elko, Galena and McQueen). The Colts lost to Galena 19-18 and Elko 26-14.

"It was a big win for us," said Douglas coach Mike Rippee about the victory over Hug. "But like I told the kids, it's something we've got to enjoy for the moment.

"We've got to get up and play with the same emotion that we had Friday night. We've got to leave it and move forward."

Douglas rushed for 267 yards against Hug, displaying several weapons, including quarterback Luke Rippee, Craig Bell, Evan Bill and A.J. Reed.

But Wooster also has a balanced attack, led by Zack Bryson, an elusive quarterback that Douglas will have to contain.

"He's a playmaker," Rippee said. "We've got to be concerned about him. They're running backs are tough. They get the hard yards.

"Wooster is a very physical football team. Their record is not indicative of what kind of team they are."

HUG (3-1) AT GALENA (3-1)

Hug figures to have plenty of motivation. Not only are the Hawks smarting from last week's embarrassing loss, they're still probably smarting from last season's embarrasing loss to Galena in the Northern 4A playoffs.

"It should give us a good indication of what it's going to take," said Galena coach Greg Sakelaris about where his team stands in the Northern 4A.

Sakelaris is obviously concerned about Hug's team speed and its big play offense. Galena's defense has been vulnerable to the big play.

"Hug definitely goes for the big play, but they'll still come at you," Sakelaris said.

Overall, Galena's defense has been solid. "We're happy with what we've been doing defensively," Sakelaris said.

Among the defensive leaders has been outside linebacker Barrett Young.

Galena's offense has also been coming along and has plenty of weapons in quarterback Pat Flynn, receiver Randy Morales and running backs Warren Whitley, Brandon Hendrix and Matt Fry.

FERNLEY (1-3) AT SPRING CREEK (2-2)

Fernley picked up its first league win against Dayton last week and at 1-2 in the Northern 3A division still has hopes of finishing in the top four and making the Northern 3A playoffs. A loss to Spring Creek wouldn't be fatal, but with Yerington and Manogue still left on the schedule, it would certainly damage the Vaqueros' chances to make the playoffs.

Vaquero coach Dave Hart figures a 5-3 league mark would be good enough to make the playoffs and even a 4-4 record could do it. The race is a little more wide open after Yerington's 22-18 upset of Lowry. "Anybody can beat anybody any given night," Hart said.

Spring Creek is a power running football team and Fernley will be hard pressed to stop the Spartans without one of its defensive tackles, Adam Sessions, who is out with an injury.

But Danny Regalado is emerging as a solid quarterback. "He's getting better each week," Hart said.