NOTES: All-star high school football games scheduled for Saturday

The prep football season ended last weekend, but not all of the helmets and shoulder pads have been put away yet.

Two all-star football games take place locally Saturday, and each will showcase senior all-stars from the Sunrise and Sunset regions.

The West Charleston Lions Club Charity All-Star Football Game, which was a summertime fixture for the past 42 years, was moved to December and kicks off at 5 p.m. Saturday at Bishop Gorman. Also, the Las Vegas High School Senior Bowl takes place at 1 p.m. at Faith Lutheran.

“This is going to be a great change for us, and we’re very excited,” said John Klumbach, co-chairman of the West Charleston Lions Club charity game. “With the state finals being over, we’re looking for a better turnout. It won’t be 115 (degrees) in the stands. It’ll be football weather, which is a huge advantage for us.”

Klumbach also said moving the game to December allows more college coaches to attend — it takes place during an NCAA-approved contact period — and added that the turnout for the team activities leading up to the game has been markedly improved.

“In June, kids have senioritis,” Klumbach said. “They’re moving on and get out of shape, or they’re working.”

The Sunrise Region all-stars have won the past two games, including 32-27 on June 1. That game featured several college-bound seniors, including Most Valuable Player Donnel Pumphrey of Canyon Springs, who saw significant playing time as a running back for San Diego State this fall.

The rosters for the 43rd edition of the game include most of the top prospects in the valley. Palo Verde’s Darwin Rost will coach the Sunset Region, and Brian Castro of Green Valley will lead the Sunrise team. Admission to the game is $10 for adults and $5 for students.

“We had to have two games in one year to avoid skipping a senior class, which we did not want to do,” Klumbach said. “Every year from now on, it will be in December.”

The Las Vegas High School Senior Bowl is in its third year. Admission is $7.

■ NEWMAN NAMED STATE PLAYER OF YEAR — Liberty senior quarterback Tyler Newman was selected the Gatorade Nevada Football Player of the Year.

Newman led the Patriots (10-4) to the Division I state semifinals, throwing for 3,991 yards and 42 touchdowns, two shy of the state record. He tied the state mark with nine TD passes in a 62-12 win over Del Sol on Oct. 11.

The Gatorade award recognizes outstanding athletic excellence along with academic achievement and exemplary character on and off the field. Newman, who carries a 4.38 GPA, now is eligible for the national player of the year award.

■ MILESTONE FOR WEITZ — Centennial girls basketball coach Karen Weitz notched her 500th career victory Tuesday as the Bulldogs defeated Palo Verde 65-21.

Weitz, 500-67 overall in 18 seasons, coached Cheyenne from 1995 to 1999 before taking over at Centennial. She is 421-40 in two stints with the Bulldogs, winning six state titles.

■ HIGBEE STEPS DOWN — Pahranagat Valley boys basketball coach Brian Higbee resigned before the Panthers opened the season last week at the Lake Mead Holiday Classic to spend more time with his family.

Higbee guided the Panthers to the past four small-school state titles and was set to begin his eighth season. Mike Strong, who led the Panthers to the 2006 Class 1A state title, replaced Higbee on an interim basis.

■ RECENT COMMITMENTS — Bonanza junior girls volleyball player Sophie Cram made an oral commitment to Brigham Young.