DON McDERMOTT MORE COLUMNS Advertisement

It's amazing the lack of respect Pahrump Valley High School athletics have in Las Vegas.

Sure, Trojans teams are up against some powerful forces in fall sports, because they now compete in the Class 4-A Sunset Region Southwest Division, which includes such teams as Bishop Gorman (whatever sport you want to mention) and Durango (one of the top volleyball squads in Nevada) and Spring Valley (an up and coming power in southwest Las Vegas).

The lack of respect has been illustrated in a couple ways.

First, when the top golfers in 4-A were mentioned, omitted was the name of Ashley Keller, who helped lead Pahrump Valley to three consecutive state Class 3-A championships.

Second, when the best volleyball players were discussed, not mentioned was Kristi Daffer, a two-time all-state player and the driving force behind the Trojans winning six of nine matches and the Copper Division title in the always tough Las Vegas Invitational tournament last weekend.

Sure, McKenzie Dean was listed as one of the better runners in cross country. But in no preview (other than in the Southwest Division preview) was it noted that Pahrump Valley High School will play a 4-A schedule for the first time in the 36-year history of the school.

Let it be known that while there is no guarantee the Trojans will win a title in any of the fall sports (which include boys and girls soccer, as well as football, cross country, girls golf and volleyball). But to underestimate PVHS teams is a mistake. (For instance, eight years into its existence, PVHS was moved from Class A to 2-A. In four years at that level, Trojans volleyball teams won two consecutive state championships.)

A new spirit has arisen in the valley, a point illustrated by what is happening today prior to the Trojans' home football game with Desert Oasis, a new Las Vegas high school.

There will be a tailgate party starting at 3 p.m. and it will be "GoldOut Day" all day. Trojan boosters are asked to buy gold T-shirts (for $5) and wear them to tonight's game against the Diamondbacks. The fans get to keep them and will be urged to wear them at other PVHS athletics events.

Incidentally, Pahrump Valley has played several new Las Vegas high schools in their first seasons in football.

The record is excellent.

* In 2001, the Trojans, then in the Southern 3-A league, defeated Henderson Coronado 16-15 and Las Vegas Sierra Vista 27-6.

* In 2003, PVHS outscored Shadow Ridge 39-34 and Henderson Liberty 49-0.

* In 2004, the Trojans downed Canyon Springs 43-14 and Spring Valley 36-6.

*The run was ended in 2005, when PVHS was edged 21-20 by Arbor View. But that team was good enough to go 3-1 against league foes and claim the school's first title since 1993.

* The 2006 team defeated Legacy 29-14.

Fans will get their first home-town look at the Trojans' new offensive scheme, the Wing-T, which features multiple shifts, men in motion, and other techniques which make it fun to watch -- and if a defense isn't careful -- will generate a lot of points in a hurry.

The Trojans' defense had its problems at Mountain View Christian last Saturday, but the Saints presented a unique approach offensively. For years, they were an eight-man power and that is how they attacked the Trojans -- with eight players in a tight formation and trip sets -- used mostly as decoys, except in red zone situations.

So, the bottom line is: Go out and have fun tonight and cheer on the Trojans -- loud enough to unnerve the opposition.