COACH INSTILLS OPTIMISM IN FOOTBALL PROGRAM
BONANZA, FROM PAGE 1:
players and no freshman team. Bonanza now has 100 returners and expects a freshman team this fall of more than 40 players. But there’s competition, especially in the Sunset Region, where the opposition includes reigning national champion Bishop Gorman, Arbor View, Centennial, Faith Lutheran and Palo Verde — schools with seemingly unlimited resources and bursting at the seams with participation.
The money Bonanza raises will go for everything from new uniforms and helmets to keep up with the Joneses to funding a nutrition program so players have a meal when they are hungry, including on game day. About 75 percent of the players in the program come from low-income families.
They’ve sold beef jerky, coupon books and hosted a lift-athon — for each pound a player lifted, a sponsor made a small donation.
They’ve also launched a Go Fund Me page and asked alumni to make $25 donations.
In addition to uniforms, Lee plans to paint the bleachers Bengal brown and yellow, and replace the stadium scoreboard and sound system.
“It’s that swag appeal, the glitz and glamour,” he said. “Look at Gorman. They have six helmets and 10 sets of uniforms, and everyone wants to play there. It is the Oregon Duck effect. You look different and play different. That’s a good way to attract kids to the school.”
So is improved play.
Bonanza lost to Gorman, the eight-time defending state champions, by only 42 points last season to give players a confidence boost, and the team pieced together four consecutive wins to make a surprise playoff appearance. This spring, they won five games in the UNLV 7-on-7 (no linemen) tournament, and in another passing tournament, they beat Arbor View and Centennial.
Lee boasts about having a “no-name” quarterback in undersized junior Kyle Allison, who he promises will soon be mentioned as one of Southern Nevada’s best. He’s selling banners to be hung around the fencing of the stadium for $500 and telling advertisers their logo will hang throughout the season, including “two or three playoff games.”
Yes, it’s a different mentality — everything from that 2-point conversion attempt that misfired against Durango to executing the plan to compete alongside Gorman and Arbor View.
“We are turning a lot of heads. People are starting to notice the effort,” Lee said. “We are getting out in the community. Bonanza has a 40-year history and a lot of alumni. These kids are proud to be part of it. They are revitalizing the program.” ray.brewer@lasvegassun.com / 702-990-2662 / @raybrewer21