Teams prepare for season-long battle

      Phillip Mullins says the football picture is clear: There's Las Vegas High, then the pretenders.
      Billy Joe Murray is less boastful, but similarly assured: "Nobody will work harder than the Sundevils."
      Mullin's wants a ring.
      Murray wants respectability.
      Ah, football season.
      Fourth-year head coach Kris Cinkovich says his Wildcats could challenge for the Sunrise division title. Mullins expects better.
      "We're going all the way to state," boasted the 17-year-old senior, who sees double duty on the offensive and defensive lines.
      Never mind losing four all-conference performers and 13 starters from last year's 5-4 team, the 270-pound three-year starter says this is the best Wildcats team he's been on, loads better than the 1996 squad that boasted a 7-4 record and made it to the playoffs.
      Part of the confidence is due to the return of 24 lettermen, including 1,000-yard rusher Jermaine Lewis, offensive tackle Prasith Mavady, standout inside linebacker Jonathan Pollard and Darren Mecham, an all-conference candidate at defensive end.
      "But more than anything, we really want it this year. You can see it everywhere," he said. "There's more team unity this year and we are working a lot harder than last year."
      As excited about the return of seven starters as the team's combustibility - the skills positions are stocked with speedy track and field athletes - Mullins said the thrice-weekly off-season weight lifting and conditioning programs will separate the Wildcats from the pack.
      "No one is more dedicated to winning than we are," he said. "The conference championship is ours to lose. The way we can lose it is if we beat ourselves. We worked harder than anybody in the off-season."
      Murray disagreed.
      "Eldorado is known for its hard workers," the 17-year-old defensive lineman said.
      Work ethic will be the cornerstone of a Sundevils stripped of 16 starters off last year's underachieving 5-4 team.
      "Last year, we had a good team," Mullins said. "We just didn't put it all together. Hopefully we can change that this year."
      It will take some work, says head coach Ken Trujillo, who admits he has many gaps to fill and is counting on Murray and nine other returning starters to lead the team while the underclassmen and rookies mature.
      The Sundevils strength will be in their lines. Howard Brissett and Ramon Vasquez, a pair of 300-pound tackles, anchor an offensive line averaging 279 pounds - one of the city's biggest - and will be counted on to bust open holes for running back DeMareo Robinson and give the darting Arlie Daniel time to pass.
      Murray, a three-year starter, mans the noseguard spot and mammoth 345-pound defensive tackle Percy Knight adds brute strength to the defensive line.
      Replacing a talented linebacking corps led by all-conference performer Brent Tarbett and team most valuable player Cory Boyd will be tough.
      Murray said the Sundevils are more cohesive than last year's squad.
      Wildcat opponents can expect a balanced offense led by junior quarterback Anthony Marini. Cinkovich says rookies have a chance to make an impact, especially in the defensive backfield, and are needed to shore up depth on the defensive line and the linebacking corps.
      Trujillo said an off-season of weightlifting and speed training has his players ready to compete. He needs underclassmen to step up and fill voids and add depth, especially on defense.
      A 39-29 win over Las Vegas last year catapulted Eldorado - 2-4 at the time - to a winning season and convinced the Sundevils that, with confidence, they could beat anybody.
      Mullins doesn't expect a repeat. He's already eyeing a conference title match-up with Cimarron, should the reigning Southern Conference champions and state runners-up repeat.
      "I don't see anybody who can stop us but ourselves," he said.
      Murray would only say the Sundevils should be better than last year. As for predictions: "It won't be a cakewalk for anybody playing Eldorado."