NHS Football: District play set to begin, Tigers hit the road Friday

File photo The Nevada Tigers run on to the field before the William Chrisman game.

By Jason Peake

Daily Mail Sports Editor

NEVADA -- The second season is set to begin.

District play begins this Friday, and the Nevada High School football team will head to Pleasant Hill in the Class 3, District 12 opener.

"To me, everybody's 0-0," Nevada Coach Wes Beachler said. "That's the way I look at it. The records don't matter."

Of course, the ultimate goal is a playoff berth. First things, first, Beachler said.

"Right now, our goal is to outplay Pleasant Hill on Friday night," Beachler said. "We're not looking past them or thinking about what-ifs right now. We just have to outplay Pleasant Hill on their home field on Friday night."

Nevada, now 5-2 after five-straight wins, hits the road in the first district game.

Beachler said Pleasant Hill will be a challenging opponent.

"They're very physical," he said. "Overall, I would say they're very well-coached and they might be the best team physically that we've seen. They fly to the ball on defense, all 11 players get to the ball. Offensively, they run in a lot of running backs, kind of like we do. They're very fundamentally sound. We've got to be ready. They're a very solid team."

Beachler noted one positive from his standpoint is the fact that all of his starting players are injury-free at this point.

"We won't have any starters out, and that's big," he said. "At the start of the season, we were without a few guys each game."

The Roosters are now 4-3 on the season. Pleasant Hill has scored 164 points this season (23.4 ppg) and allowed 147 (21 ppg).

Pleasant Hill has been balanced offensively, averaging 141 passing yards and 138 rushing yards per game.

Quarterback Josh Griffith will go to the air or hand off to a group of running backs.

Hank Hudson is the leading rusher, while Brigham West and Maurice Lang are two other threats.

As far as receivers, Hunter Melies and Justin Morgan have been Griffith's main targets.

Hunter Melies has caught 27 passes for 526 yards and six touchdowns, while Morgan has 377 receiving yards this season with three scores.

Also of note, Nevada is 3-0 in road games this season.

The Tigers are scoring 20.6 points per game and allowing 20.5.

Dalton Hendren leads Nevada with 422 rushing yards, while Johnathan Klingaman has 367 and Lucas Denman now has 226.

Two others, Trevor Hunholz (190) and Bradey Denney (108) also have more than 100 yards rushing this season.

Hunholz has a team-high six touchdowns.

NEVADA FOOTBALL SEASON STATS

Rushing -- Dalton Hendren 63 carries, 422 yards; Johnathan Klingaman 77-367 yards; Lucas Denman, 50-226; Trevor Hunholz, 38-190; Bradey Denney 37-108; Alex Payne 30-84; Cole Sanderson 8-27.

Passing -- Alex Payne -- 14-for-24, 294 yards, 3TD.

Receiving -- Klingaman 4-147; Denman 2-26; Bubba Banes 4-89, TD; Tyler Whitworth, 1-13; Keegan Bell 1-19; Hendren 1-(-2).

Nevada's season

Lost to Warrensburg 27-18

Lost to Seneca 40-0

Beat East Newton 22-17

Beat Springfield Central 36-6

Beat El Dorado Springs 8-0

Beat William Chrisman 29-22

Beat McDonald County 31-19

Pleasant Hill's season

Beat Boonville 27-16

Beat Hogan Prep Charter 18-12

Beat Odessa 35-21

Lost to Oak Grove 12-7

Lost to Grain Valley 29-28

Lost to Harrisonville 29-14

Beat Excelsior Springs 35-28

Last three meetings vs. Nevada

2010 -- Pleasant Hill 28-6

2009 -- Pleasant Hill 28-26

2008 -- Pleasant Hill 19-13

Class 3, District 12 football

Friday's scores

Nevada 31, Mac County 19

Clinton 28, Versailles 7

Holden 48, Carrollton 6

Pleasant Hill 35, Excelsior Springs 28

This week's games

Nevada at Pleasant Hill

Holden at Clinton

Friday, Oct. 21

Clinton at Nevada

Pleasant Hill at Holden

Thursday, Oct. 27 games

Nevada at Holden

Clinton at Pleasant Hill

Regular season ends.