Football: Coleville, Hawthorne to play for first place

First-place in the Western 1A football race will be at stake on Saturday when Coleville hosts Mineral County (Hawthorne) in a showdown that stands to affect the regular season and post season pictures.

Coleville (7-0, 2-0) and Mineral County (5-2, 2-0) play at 1 p.m. for first-place in the division, which will carry homefield advantage into the playoffs through two rounds leading to the state championship game on Nov. 21 at a site to be determined in Northern Nevada.

The game will feature two of the state's leading statistical leaders, tailbacks Jason Peters of Coleville and Logan Espinoza of Mineral County. Espinoza (5-5, 178) has rushed for 1,446 yards and 18 TDs, in addition to throwing for 321 yards.

This is Mineral County's first year playing 8-man ball. The Serpents were 4-5 in the 2A division in 2008.

"Their running back is good, we'll definitely have to try and find a way to slow him down," Coleville coach Will Sandy said. "I think our defense will be critical. That will be the key."

This will be the first true test of the season for the Wolves, who have outscored their seven opponents 538-40.

"It's going to be the first time we've been challenged and we're looking forward to it," Peters said. "We've been working hard to get ready for them. I think it will be a good game."