Faith Lutheran continues quest for respect against Spring Creek

As the lone Southern Nevada private school in Class 4A, Bishop Gorman made an emphatic statement by winning last year’s 4A state football championship.

It’s the same kind of statement Faith Lutheran hopes to make at the 3A level this season — its last before joining the Gaels as a 4A school next fall.

“People are starting to recognize that there’s more than one private school in the area, and we want to show our stuff, too,” Faith Lutheran quarterback David Sperry said.

With only seven starters back from last year’s 6-4 team, the Crusaders opened with a 19-12 win at Campbell Hall (Calif.) on Saturday.

Faith Lutheran probably will have a tougher task when it hosts Spring Creek at 7 p.m. today. The 3A Spartans are coming off a 34-19 win at 4A Elko.

Sperry, who threw for two touchdowns in the opener, played with cracked high ribs Saturday without knowing it. The 5-foot-10-inch, 160-pound senior suffered the injury in practice Thursday but did not learn its extent until Monday.

Sperry said he plans to suit up tonight but is unlikely to be under center. He could see time at wide receiver, a position where he moonlighted last year.

Last season, Sperry threw for four touchdowns, ran for five and caught three. As a defensive back, he had 37 tackles, one sack and two fumble recoveries.

That versatility, along with a 4.6-second time in the 40-yard dash and a 3.8 grade-point average, has drawn Sperry recruiting interest from San Diego, Brown, Southern Utah and Navy.

“He’s a coach on the field, and he’s been in the program long enough to know what we want and all the X’s and O’s,” Faith Lutheran coach Jacob Kothe said. “He has the leadership skills to communicate that.”

Even before the injury, Kothe hadn’t planned for Sperry to play quarterback all the time.

“We’re going to move him around,” Kothe said. “Give the defense a little different look. He’ll draw attention whether he’s behind center or in the slot or the wing.”

When Sperry is not under center, sophomore Joe Portaro will take the reins, Kothe said.

Junior running back John Cartier and sophomore wideout Don Pearson also figure to be key cogs in Faith Lutheran’s spread attack.

Defensively, junior defensive tackle Evan Newton and sophomore linebacker Brette Lubbe lead the way.

Faith Lutheran exited last season’s 3A Southern League playoffs with a 39-20 loss at eventual state champion Moapa Valley. But that hasn’t stopped the Crusaders from eyeing a state title this season.

“The goal is always a state championship,” Sperry said. “We want to prove we’ve got what it takes, to let everybody know that we’re going to be ready when we go to 4A.”