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The Shadow Ridge High football team returned to campus a few hours after losing in last season’s state championship game.
Coaches collected gear and consoled players as the Mustangs’ season ended one game shy of the ultimate goal of being champions with a 61-27 loss to Silverado.
But on that cold November night in northwest Las Vegas, coaches decided to take the first — albeit painful — step in fixing whatever went wrong in the lopsided defeat.
Instead of heading home, they huddled in the film room and reviewed the game tape.
Many coaches don’t watch the last game of the season, especially when it’s a brutal defeat. But for coach Travis Foster, there was no need to delay diving into the video, as addressing whatever the film showed would be paramount in preparing for the next season.
“There is always some cringeworthy moments on specific calls or formations,” he said. “It was the first time I had coached in a state title game; first time I lost the state title game, and I wanted to know why. It didn’t feel like we got totally dominated. (The film) showed there were stretches where we were winning up front.”
Those moments of strong play are giving Shadow Ridge players confidence for today’s state championship game, a rematch against Silverado at 7 p.m. at Allegiant Stadium for the class 4A title.
Silverado is the unquestioned favorite, especially with senior Donavyn Pellot leading the charge. Pellot, who is committed to UCLA, never leaves the field for the Skyhawks, and often scores on offense, defense and special teams in the same game.
Silverado has only surrendered 40 points in 11 games and hasn’t been beaten since 2019.
“Silverado always finds a way. I have never seen a team score on defense and special teams as much as they do,” Foster said.
Foster stresses that his team will need to control the line of scrimmage and limit the turnovers to have a chance. More important, he says his players will be ready, as they have been waiting for a rematch with Silverado.
“Silverado never left their mind,” Foster said. “When you see someone celebrate a state championship on the other side of the field, that is something you don’t forget.”
Shadow Ridge (11-1) runs a misdirection offense led by junior quarterback Coen Coloma, who has rushed for 974 yards and 16 touchdowns on the season. Most quarterbacks aren’t eager to play in a run-heavy offense like that used by Shadow Ridge, but Coloma grew up playing in a junior program attached to the high school and knows the scheme inside and out.
Shadow Ridge gained more than 500 rushing yards Nov. 11 in a state semifinal win against Las Vegas and has the one player — senior JaQuieze Holland — who could be the difference-maker. The four-year starter rushed for 1,600 yards and 19 touchdowns on the season.
“This will be the toughest game we have had in two years,” Silverado coach Andy Ostolaza said. “We are evenly matched. Everything we have, they have. Defensively, they are super fast. Offensively, they have multiple weapons with Coloma, Holland and the two (wing running backs).”
Foster said some of his players were surprised to reach the championship game last season. That was also played at Allegiant Stadium, giving the students a once-in-a-lifetime moment to cherish. This year is different — the Mustangs expected to play for state. And they expected to line up against Silverado.
“When we turned the page to this season, the kids took the expectation that we’d be back,” Foster said.
Regardless of the outcome, or what time they return to campus in the far northwest, Foster plans to close the season by watching one more game film. It’s best to look in the mirror for self-evaluation when the result is still fresh.
This time, however, he hopes the tape shows a celebration of a lifetime by his players and support system with Silverado watching from across the field.