Football: Tigers open at Reed tonight

The Douglas High School football team opens its 2006 campaign tonight at Reed High School in Sparks at 7 p.m.

Not much is known about either team, as both will be ushering in new faces at key positions.

Douglas won last year's season-opening matchup 14-7 on a last-minute 57-yard touchdown strike from Jake Williams to D.J. Brady in Minden.

Douglas returns all of its running backs from that game as Reese Kizer, Tyler Tinstman, Julius Bailey and Ryan Pruitt combined for 149 yards on the ground in the win. The Tigers will also add Will Sheerin and Brock Peterson to the mix in the backfield.

Reed's Jerel Clark, a 6-foot, 185-pound senior is expected to take the bulk of the carries for the Raiders.

Clark has clocked a 4.4-second 40-yard dash and should be led by a solid line, despite the Raiders' loss of all-state tackle Jerzy Siewierski.

Douglas will welcome new starting quarterback David Laird, who had a solid sophomore season at the junior varsity level, as well as new starting receivers Kyle Heidt and Devin Barker.

Reed brings back starting quarterback Tony Maldonado, who passed for 42 yards and rushed for 34 more against the Tigers last year.

Maldonado is one of the fastest players in the region, having clocked 4.38 in the 40, and he may give the Douglas defense fits if he can use his scrambling ability to create room.

Douglas, however, returns six starters on defense, including four all-leaguers and two all-region honorees in linebacker Brent Koontz and defensive back Cole Hamzik.

Reed advanced to the region semifinals last year before losing to eventual region champion Hug. The Raiders finished with an 8-4 record.

Douglas put together a 4-6 record and qualified for the playoffs before losing to regional finalist McQueen.

-- Joey Crandall can be reached at jcrandall@recordcourier.com or at (775) 782-5121, ext. 212.