Vaqueros host Elko to open league play

Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter

A bye week after three weeks of a 10-game schedule might not normally be optimal timing. But for the Fernley Vaqueros, this time it might be perfect timing.

The Vaqueros will open Northern 3A league play Friday night against Elko, a team they haven’t beaten since the Covid-shortened spring season of 2021. That’s three consecutive losses to the Indians, including a 42-21 defeat last year in Elko.

This time, though, the Vaqueros are coming into Friday’s game with two weeks to prepare, on the heels of a 67-0 win over Wooster in their last outing on Aug. 30.

“I thought the bye week fell at a good time,” coach Anfernee Sloan said. “We took the full two weeks to get ready.”

Sloan said the bye week was a productive one for the Vaqueros, who had a couple of key players still recovering from injuries that limited them in the first three weeks of the season.

After opening the season against two very good opponents in Douglas and Biship (Calif.), the Vaqueros dominated Wooster in every phase of the game, scoring touchdowns on nine of their 10 possessions and adding two safeties, one on special teams and one on defense.

The Vaqueros piled up 488 yards of offense, including 311 on the ground on just 18 attempts. Riley McCullar led the way with 115 yards and two touchdowns on four carries, while quarterback Bryce Stephens completed 6 of 12 passes for 177 yards and 3 touchdowns. Keeshawn Love ran for two touchdowns and both Diego Mendez and Marciano Montano ran for one score.

“I wouldn’t say that they let frustration out, I think it’s just they did everything the right way tonight,” Sloan said.

But now comes league play for the Vaqueros, starting with the Indians, who have presented them with a multitude of problems on both sides of the ball the past three years. Offensively the Indians run a Wing-T offense, but with a returning quarterback in Ethan Kraintz, Sloan said they are running more spread out formations this season.

“They’re pretty deceptive,” Sloan said. “I think Ethan Kraintz is their biggest threat.”

The Vaqueros won’t have to face the two players who tortured them last season, running back Eli Finlayson and tight end Preston Chamberlin, who combined for three touchdowns, but have since graduated.

Instead, Elko’s offense has been led by the trio of Kraintz and running backs Jake Carsrud and Riott Duke. Carsrud, a 6-feet, 185-pound junior, has posted 157 yards rushing on just 11 carries. A sophomore at 5-10, 170, Duke 5-10 has 102 yards on 23 carries while Kraintz has run for 145 yards on 14 carries and completed 9 of 17 passes for 120 yards with 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.

But Elko may be even more deceptive defensively than they are offensively. In the past, Elko has used a variety of defensive fronts against Fernley,

“I don’t know what coach (Luke) Sellers is going to do,” Sloan said. “Coach Sellers is always that oddball for us, we call it the circus defense because they’re moving all over. I think they try to confuse us.”

Sloan said the bye week was one of the best weeks of practice the Vaqueros have had in the past couple of years and he said the Vaqueros are ready to reestablish themselves as a contender in the Northern 3A.

“These guys are a high-quality program, a top 3 program in our conference,” he said. “Our mindset is we are a top three program, and we know it’s going to be a battle for four quarters. I do expect this to be a tough football game that goes all the way down to the last second.”

And after two weeks of preparation, Sloan didn’t hesitate when asked if his team is anxious to get back on the field.

“Anxious is a good word to use,” he said. “This is what we’ve been preparing for. Our goal this week against Elko is to go 1-0, win all three phases and move on to the next one.”