NOTES: Sophomore QB has Faith Lutheran thinking big

As a sophomore, Greg Benson seems to have a bright future in Faith Lutheran’s football program.

The 6-foot-2-inch quarterback has been pretty good in the present, too.

Benson’s emergence is one of the reasons the Crusaders are back in the postseason for the first time since 2008.

Faith Lutheran (5-4, 3-2 Division I-A Sunset League) visits Boulder City (8-1, 4-1 I-A Sunrise) in a I-A Southern Region first-round game at 7 p.m. today.

Benson has completed 72.5 percent of his passes for 962 yards and 14 touchdowns, with only four interceptions for the pass-happy Crusaders.

“He’s doing a great job for us,” Faith Lutheran coach Jake Kothe said. “He’s a smart kid, and he’s put in a lot of time and great leadership skills to lead the team. When things don’t go quite as well, he’s able to play calm and stay the course.”

Benson has formed one of the area’s top passing duos with 6-5 senior receiver Anthony Pryatel-Farmer, who has 60 catches for 902 yards and nine TDs.

“Certainly (Pryatel-Farmer) has got great ball skills and great range,” Kothe said. “Being 6-5, he can attack that ball at the highest point.”

Faith Lutheran is hoping for a different outcome than its 41-22 loss at Boulder City on Aug. 31, when the Eagles racked up 457 yards rushing.

“They’ve got a talented team, and they’ve got strong runners,” Kothe said. “They’ve got some playmakers over there who we’re going to have to work hard to contain.”

In other I-A first-round games tonight, Pahrump Valley (2-7) visits Moapa Valley (9-1), Desert Pines (5-4) travels to Mojave (5-4), and Virgin Valley (5-4) visits Cheyenne (7-2).

RECENT COMMITMENTS — Local senior softball players who made oral commitments to the College of Southern Nevada include Chaparral catcher Lauren Lesniak and pitcher Nicole Lesniak, Desert Oasis pitcher/first baseman C.J. Wilson and Cimarron-Memorial utility player Sarina Creswell.

In girls soccer, Pahrump Valley senior Kaitlin Klem committed to Grand Canyon (Ariz.), and Centennial junior Kelsey Thein picked Houston.

GOLF HONORS — In Division I girls golf, Green Valley’s Alex Kaui was named Sunrise Region Player of the Year and Arbor View’s Kiley Ballew the Sunset Region Player of the Year.

Faith Lutheran’s Annie Freman and Brianna Becker shared I-A Southern Region Player of the Year honors.

GATORS RANKED — Green Valley’s girls soccer team is ranked No. 13 in the nation in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll.