HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT Nick Murphy, a sophomore quarterback, looks over the line, in Pahrump Valley High School's Maroon-and-Gold intrasquad scrimmage Saturday. Advertisement

Brian Hug has emphasized the fact that while Phoenix Christian is a Class 2-A team, "the Cougars have won two state championships in the last five years.

"And to win a state title in any class is an indication that the team knows how to win," said the second-year Pahrump Valley High School football coach.

Pahrump Valley plays at Phoenix Christian Friday night to open the 2007 season. While the Trojans were 3-7 and lost in the first round of the Nevada Class 3-A playoffs last year, Phoenix Christian was going 11-2 and made it to the Arizona state semifinals before being eliminated 9-6 by Chandler Valley Christian.

Valley Christian, along with Phoenix Christian, are in the Metro League, as are Phoenix Bourgade Catholic, Phoenix Arizona Lutheran, Phoenix North Pointe Prep, Scottsdale Christian, Northwest Christian, and Westwind Prep Academy.

Jim Rattay is in his sixth year as the Cougars' coach; his teams are 51-12, with his 2003 squad going 13-0 enroute to the first of the school's two state championships under his direction. The 2004 Cougars were 11-2 and won the state championship; they have seven state titles since football began there in 1955.

Phoenix Christian is 382-56-8 in all games, with its other state titles in 1959, 1984, 1985, 1996 and 1999. The Cougars were 145-67-3 in 22 years under the direction of Walt Bemis and 122-20 in 10 seasons with Keith Brown as coach. Phoenix Christian has had only eight sub.500 seasons, none since going 3-6 in 1991.

"Phoenix Christian is obviously a good football team," said Hug, before the Trojans practiced Monday. "But we want to play good football teams to help us get ready for the (Southern 3-A) league season. The better the teams are, the better we will be prepared."

The Southern League is not without its dangerous teams; Mesquite Virgin Valley is the defending state champion and Overton Moapa Valley, the regular-season leader, was state runnerup, losing 10-7 to the Bulldogs in the finals.

Las Vegas Faith Lutheran was a playoff team last season, and Boulder City, until the last couple seasons, was one of Pahrump Valley's major antagonists.

The Trojans' strength will be on the offensive and defensive lines; both will average more 250 pounds per man. Frank Lopez, Daniel Miller, and Tito Ceballos are the senior leaders up front. Key juniors are linebackers Zack Weldon and Ande Floyd; center Joey Colucci, and lineman Steven Schmidt.

Nick Murphy, a sophomore, will direct the Trojans' pro-set offense, which will have Weldon at tight end; Chase Shropshire and Don Gott at the wideouts; Benji DeSantiago at fullback and Floyd at halfback.

Schmidt, Miller, Dan Carter and Colucci will be on the defensive line in a 4-3 scheme; DeSantiago is slated to be at linebacker.

Dijon Celius, a freshman, is slated to start at cornerback, along with Aaron Sybert. Shropshire and Mathius Bowling are slated to start at the safeties.

Hug, the head coach, will be the defensive coordinator. Steve Critchlow is the offensive coordinator. The assistant coaching group includes long-time Rosemary Clarke Middle School head coach Leo Verzilli, and former Ely White Pine head coach Ray Goodell. Mike Colucci, the father of Joey and 2007 grad Mike, is a volunteer coach, and so is Leo Miller.

"We lost 26 seniors off last year's team, so we are looking to develop depth," said Hug, advising that more than 90 boys were at the Maroon and Gold scrimmage Saturday.

Directions to Phoenix Christian

Officials at Phoenix Christian High School suggest that motorists from Pahrump, once they get to Kingman, Ariz., take I-40 to Flagstaff, where they would pick up I-17 to head south to the school, located at 1751 W. Indian School Road in northwest Phoenix.

At the Indian School exit off I-17, head east for three or four miles to the school, which is located on the south side of Indian School Road near 19th Avenue.

Google's suggested route is U.S. 93 to Wickenburg, Ariz. Turn left at U.S. 60/E. Wickenburg Way. Merge onto I-10 East toward Flagstaff. Exit 202 toward Indian School Road; merge onto N. Black Canyon Highway. Turn right at W. Indian School Road.

Turn right at N. 18th Ave. The school is located at 1751 W. Indian School Road. From Las Vegas, it is approximately 300 miles to the school, with an average driving time of 5 hours, 13 minutes.

Whichever way Trojan fans travel, be sure the air-conditioning is working; have plenty of water to drink, and be cautious, especially in construction zones or any other conditions that will adversely affect travel.