Kaitlyn Horstdaniel tosses three touchdowns in first half to lead Las Vegas over Rancho

The Las Vegas High flag football team was the greatest show on turf Thursday night, at least for one half.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Horstdaniel was 11-for-20 passing for 228 yards and three touchdowns to lift the Wildcats over Rancho 26-6 on the road to clinch the Northeast League title.

“One of the best things about it is regardless of record we got both teams’ best effort,” Las Vegas coach Erick Capetillo said. “We came out hot and they made some adjustments but we come out with the victory.”

The first play of the game for the Wildcats was a 60-yard touchdown pass from Horstdaniel to junior Natalie Gennuso. Horstdaniel put the icing on it by running the ball in herself for the extra point.

Most of those passing yards were made in the first half as both teams were held in check in the final 30 minutes:Horstdaniel completed just one pass for 17 yards after the break.

Horstdaniel’s connection with Gennuso was particularly effective Thursday for Las Vegas (11-5, 6-0 Northeast League), as Gennuso caught six passes for 132 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half.

“Usually what we try to do is spread out some teams and find the dead spots,” Capetillo said. “We found some of those dead spots early. But they’re a good team so they were able to make adjustments and slow us down in the second half.”

The Wildcats were able to hold Rancho (8-4, 4-1 Northeast League) to one touchdown late in the first half and shut them out in the second half completely.

“We have a championship caliber defense and they showed up today,” Capetillo said. “They played a full game and that’s really what got us through that second half.”

Rancho made a change at quarterback in the second half, subbing in junior Kayla Holbert for senior Katerina Anthony. Both Anthony and Holbert were 3-for-7 passing. Anthony tossed the Rams’ only touchdown in the first half to senior Lataizhane Porter.

The Rancho and Las Vegas rivalry goes back to 1957 in boys’ football and each year they play in “The Bone Game.” This was the first year the girls played for the Bone Trophy.

“Both our schools go back many moons ago,” Capetillo said. “We wanted to start a new tradition for the girls and do the girls’ bone game.”

After the win, the Wildcats received the Bone Trophy and began the classic chant the boys’ team uses, “Bone stays home.”

Contact reporter Bill Slane at bslane@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4559. Follow @bill_slane on Twitter.