With all that taken into account, the realignment plan was not popular with a good number of Northern 4A coaches, mainly the ones designated for the High Desert League. The HDL now serves as the home to: perennial regional powers McQueen, Reed, Reno and Hug. In addition, North Valleys and Spanish Springs, two of the North’s newest and largest schools, are HDL members and many onlookers believe they are both on the verge of being consistently competitive.
Elko, which has not qualified for the postseason in any of the last three seasons, but was one of the top programs in the state prior to its recent struggles, is the final HDL member school.
The current members account for seven of the North’s last eight representatives in the state championship game. Hug, Reno and North Valleys are the first-year HDL schools after transferring from the Sierra League. Galena, Bishop Manogue and Fallon left the HDL after last school year to join the Sierra League under the new realignment plan.
Only the top four teams at the conclusion of the regular season will advance into the regional playoffs.
“First of all, there is no doubt we have outstanding teams in our league,” veteran McQueen coach Ken Dalton said. “It’s especially tough … I think we have six teams that could potentially make the playoffs from our division.”
Dalton was not alone in his thoughts on the HDL’s potential competitive nature.
“I think we find ourselves in a very tough league,” North Valleys coach Jason Ehlen said. “Anytime you’re in a league with perennial powers McQueen and Reed, it’s going to be tough. Ultimately, to have a successful season, you’re going to have to play the toughest teams in the North.
“There’s no question, when you look at different sports, the realignment affects them differently. Baseball and basketball may be a little different, but in football we’ve got some tough work ahead of us. We must be ready to play each Friday night.”
Nearly all the HDL coaches agree prep sports are cyclical. Few programs are immune to a downturn in talent every once in a while. Still, the HDL’s new membership does seem to be a bit heavier than its Sierra League counterparts in terms of tradition.
“Sure kids change and football changes, but what this new alignment give the High Desert is tradition,” Spanish Springs third-year coach Scott Hare said. “We’re facing a tradition-rich program every week. The league is stacked with teams with a lot of tradition. All of the traditional powerhouses in the 4A North are in the same league.”
Longtime Hug football coach Rollins Stallworth has seen a lot of northern Nevada football over the years. He has built the Hawks program into a consistent winner. Still, he’s not a a fan of the realignment and the current balance of power.
“I would have preferred the leagues stayed the same way. I thought it (realignment issue) was kind of ram-rodded through the system. I was hoping we’d get another year to evaluate it.
“We are excited about our opportunity, but from a football standpoint, it sure seems like we put a lot of teams that have been battling for regional and league championships the last couple years into one division. But the reality is, there’s no use moaning about it.”
He’s right there. Complaining won’t get the Hawks or any of the HDL’s six other schools any closer to a playoff berth. After three weeks of non-league competition, teams start conference play Sept. 26.
Regardless of how the league race finally shakes out at season’s end, HDL coaches all agreed, whichever four schools qualify for postseason play will have earned it.
“I think they’ve made the HDL as competitive as it’s ever been. If you come out with a playoff spot from this side, you’ve done well,” Reed coach Ernie Howren said.
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