RICHARD STEPHENS / PVT Quarterback Matt Everts, 10, runs against Spring Mountain, in Beatty’s 40-14 loss to the Eagles in a Nevada Class A Central Division football game Saturday. The Hornets are at Round Mountain today; kickoff is at 7 p.m. Central 1-A standings 1-A All W-L W-L PF-PA Tonopah 3-0 6-1 306-140 Beatty 1-1 3-3 223-232 RMtn 1-1 3-4 206-269 ISprings 1-1 1-5 120-206 SMtn 1-1 2-4 214-234 Walker 0-3 2-4 136-152 This week's games Tonight Beatty at Round Mountain, 7 p.m. Saturday Indian Springs at Spring Mountain, 1 p.m. Advertisement

Gus Sullivan loves the Spring Mountain football complex, situated at 8,000 feet in the picturesque mountain range located west of the Las Vegas Strip. But he and the Beatty High School football team he coaches did have trouble with the Eagles on a spectacular -- weather-wise -- Saturday afternoon.

Spring Mountain rebounded from a 68-18 loss to another Nye County team, Tonopah, to defeat Beatty 40-14, dropping the Hornets to 1-1 in the Nevada Class A Central Division and 3-3 in all games. The Eagles are 1-1, 2-4.

"We didn't play very well," said Sullivan, in his first season as the Hornets' coach. "We had a couple fumbles early and we never did get started." Tony Heilman had a big day offensively for the Hornets, but it wasn't enough to offset the speed and strength of the Eagles.

The Hornets are back on the road tonight, playing at Round Mountain in another Central Division and intra-Nye County rivalry game. Kickoff is at 7.

The Hornets have two games remaining as they continue to battle for one of the Central Division's playoff berths. They travel to Tonopah next Friday, then are at home Oct. 26 to play Indian Springs.

That is Homecoming Week at Beatty, and on that Thursday, volleyball will start at 3 p.m., with football at 7.

Tonopah's Nevada Class A Central Division football game at Henderson Warren-Walker has been canceled, with the Muckers awarded a victory by forfeit.

And Curt McElroy, the Tonopah football coach and athletics director, is not pleased.

"We helped push for Henderson to be added to the division; the coach said he would have 30 players on the team this season," said McElroy. "Tuesday, I was called and was told that nine of the 14 players on the team were ineligible to play. Our players took that hard; they look forward to playing each week."

The game was to be played at Liberty High School in Henderson, with a 2 p.m. kickoff. Instead, the Muckers will have an unexpected weekend off.

Last Friday, the Muckers celebrated Homecoming with a 52-6 rout of Indian Springs, as they advanced their record to 5-1, 2-0 in the division. Warren-Walker fell to 0-2 in the division, 2-3 in all games with a 36-6 loss to Round Mountain (1-1, 2-4).

"I plan to call the NIAA (Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association) to make sure that Henderson reports those ineligible players and that they forfeited the game," said McElroy.

The Muckers, out to make it three consecutive division championships and qualify for the post-season playoffs, didn't let up against Indian Springs, ending the game with 5:22 remaining in the third quarter because of the 1-A's 45-point mercy rule. Tonopah led 32-0 at halftime.

NevPrep.com's passing leader, Mitch Lehner completed 11 of 16 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception. Tyler Bessire, who leads Greater Nevada in receptions, had five snags for 120 yards and a TD, and Dakota Smith caught the other two TD passes by Lehner.

Lehner has completed 99 of 186 passes for 1,543 yards, with 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Bessire has 38 receptions for 570 yards.

Eric White returned a kickoff 79 yards (on an 80-yard field) for another Tonopah score. It was his third kick return for a touchdown this year. Billy Hammer, a newcomer to the team, led the Muckers' defense with 10 tackles, a blocked punt and a sack, and Guy Wagner and Mike Dolfin had 11 and 10 tackles respectively.

Only Tonopah's penchant for penalties the Muckers were flagged 13 times for 105 yards marred their performance.

"Our kids played well tonight," coach Curt McElroy said. "We still have some stuff to correct, but we played very (well). We have a lot of guys who can catch the ball for us and Guy Wagner (who relieved Lehner at quarterback in the third quarter) proved tonight that he can come in at QB and run our offense if we need him to."

Round Mountain ended a four-game losing streak with a 36-6 road win over Warren-Walker.

"It was definitely our best game to date," said Knights coach Jim Swigart, whose team improved to 1-1 in league and 2-4 overall while dropping Warren-Walker to 0-2 and 2-3. "Big improvements, especially on defense. Phil Nichols was back with us after being injured in the Smith Valley game (Sept. 15) and was quite inspirational (recovering two fumbles)."

Mykal Peterson rushed for 195 yards and three touchdowns and Clint Wilson added 73 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Nick Scott led the Round Mountain defense with six tackles and two sacks and Wilson, Brendon Musselman and Jake Birchim all had interceptions.

"We are at home for our next three," Swigart said, "and if we play without giving up the big play, with no turnovers, we will be competitive."

The Web site, nevprep.com, contributed to this story.