New Bulldog football coach Yori Ludvigson speaks to this year’s football players during an introduction meeting at the high school gym in April. File Photo.

New Bulldog football coach Yori Ludvigson speaks to this year’s football players during an introduction meeting at the high school gym in April. File Photo.

The Virgin Valley High School Bulldog football team opens the season tomorrow night in Las Vegas against 1-A Sunset League opponent Western High School. The Bulldogs will be facing an opponent, who like the Bulldogs this year, went through a rough rebuilding season in 2013. The Warriors were outscored 493-27 by Division 1-A, opponents last year and went 0-9 for the season. The Warriors are counting on last year’s freshman and sophomores to show rapid improvement in 2014.

Meanwhile, first-year Coach Yori Ludvigson is attempting to build a bulldog team from his almost senior-less squad. The Bulldogs graduated all starters from last year’s team which went 8-3. “We welcomed about 74 kids for opening practice,” said coach Ludvigson. “We have a great group of kids who are doing everything we ask. They have shown up for practice from day one and seem to love what they are doing. We have chosen 26 kids for the varsity squad. Senior Junior Paongo has been named captain and is working hard helping the younger kids. He is explosive from the backfield and will be counted on to anchor the defense from his outside linebacker position. Junior running back Kai Mitchell adds quickness and athleticism to the position. Although inexperienced, our offensive line has improved 1000 % since the first day of practice. Senior Branden Haun worked hard during the off-season and should be a leader along the line. Jarron Linge, Cody Jones and last year’s backup Tony Urias are battling for the quarterback position. We will select a starter after our scrimmages this week in Las Vegas.” Coach Ludvigson has stated that his offense is basic spread shotgun but will get, as he says, ‘nasty’ with a tight double tight end, two back set when needed.

The Dawgs will need to improve fast as they will face another Sunset League opponent next week at Faith Lutheran. The Crusaders are the defending Division 1-A state champions. The Bulldogs will host Del Sol High School on September 12 in their first Sunrise League game. Del Sol played Division 1 ball last season.

Junior Paongo #11 is stopped for a short gain during a game last season. Paongo will be counted on to be the workhorse for the Bulldogs this year. Photo by Lou Martin, 2013.

Junior Paongo #11 is stopped for a short gain during a game last season. Paongo will be counted on to be the workhorse for the Bulldogs this year. Photo by Lou Martin, 2013.

(Home Games are in Bold)
8/29  7:00p @ Western (Las Vegas, NV) Location: Western High School
9/5  7:00p @ Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas, NV) Location: Faith Lutheran High School
9/12  7:00p Del Sol (Las Vegas, NV) Location: Virgin Valley High School
9/19  7:00p Rancho (Las Vegas, NV) Location: Virgin Valley High School
9/27  7:00p Sunrise Mountain (Las Vegas, NV) Location: Virgin Valley High School
10/02  7:00p @ Desert Pines (Las Vegas, NV) Location: Desert Pines High School
10/10  7:00p @ Moapa Valley (Overton, NV) Location: Moapa Valley High School ***Rivalry Game***
10/17  7:00p Chaparral (Las Vegas, NV) Location: Virgin Valley High School
10/24  7:00p @ Boulder City (Boulder City, NV) Location: Boulder City High School

Roster (As of 8/26/14)

Andrew Memmott      So.
Anthony Ocampo       So.
Anthony Pihl
Arden Bundy              Jr.
Bobby Pulver              Fr.
Branden Haun             Sr.
Brayden Johnson        So.
Brenden Irvin              Fr.
Brogan Bingham         Fr.
Cesar Zarate                So.
Chase Henderson        So.
Chris Tarrayo              Fr.
Christian Wall             So.
Cody Jones                 Jr.
Cole Stenberg             Fr.
Crescent Crandall       Fr.
Cristo Flores                Jr.
Dakota Munford         Fr.
Dallan Tanner              Fr.
Danny Castro              So.
David Brown              Jr.
Dayden Payne             So.
Diego Burriel              Jr.
Dillan Fuqua               Fr.
Easton Jensen              Fr.
Edgar Cruz                  Sr.
Evan Wilson                So.
Ezra Patten                  Jr.
Feofaki Paongo           Sr.
Hogan Fowles             So.
Isaac Draskovich         Sr.
Jace Burrows               Fr.
Jacob Baird                 So.
Jacob Musser               Fr.
Jacob Ruvalcaba         So.
Jaden Dalton               So.
Jaret Tietjen                 So.
Jario Vallajo                Jr.
Jaron Linge                 Jr.
Jayden Perkins            Fr.
Jose Ramos                 Jr.
Josh Abbott                 Fr.
Josh Bishop                 Jr.
Julian Reyes                Jr.
Justin Wallace             So.
Kai Mitchell                Jr.
Keaton Ogden            Fr.
Logan Felix                 Fr.
Lorin Reber                 Jr.
Marcelo Lara               Jr.
Marlan Felshaw           Jr.
Mern Hafen                 Jr.
Micheal Jorge
Nathan Cannon           Fr.
Nick Cox                     Jr.
Oscar Colmenero        So.
River Biasi                  Jr.
Roger Murdock
Ryan Frump                Jr.
Sal Guzman                 So.
Thomas Lee
Tim Moeai                   Fr.
Tony Urais                  Jr.
Trevon Hollingshead
Trevor Anderson         Fr.
Tristen Goldtooth       So.
Zach Barnum              Jr.
Brayton Hampsten      So.

Team History (According to nevadapreps.com)
State championships: 2006, 1994, 1987, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1982, 1981, 1974, 1970
Recent state runner-up finishes: 2007, 2005, 2003, 1996
Recent league championships: 2007, 2002, 1998, 1997, 1996
Recent playoff appearances: 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996
2013 postseason: Sunrise League’s No. 3 seed
Division I-A Southern Region
First Round, defeated Mojave, 47-0
Division I-A State 
Quarterfinals, lost to Moapa Valley, 20-13