South Tahoe High football team in Las Vegas for first state title bid since 1991

11/12 update: The Vikings' road to state has ended in Las Vegas. The boys from South Tahoe High suffered a crushing blow with a loss to Desert Pines, 56-7 in the 3A State semifinals.

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For the first time in 25 years, the South Tahoe High football team is headed to the Nevada Division 3A State football championship games in Las Vegas this weekend. The Vikings are coming off a victory over rival Truckee to head to Vegas as the number two seed from Northern Nevada.

The 28-20 win over Truckee sends South Tahoe to their first appearance at the state playoffs since 1991.

"This is an awesome and great feeling," said the team's quarterback, senior Tommy Cefalu. "We've been working hard for four years to get to this point."

It's been a long season since second year STHS Coach Louis Franklin started practices this past summer, and this past week he continued fine tuning his defense and offense as they prepare to play number one seed from Southern Nevada, Desert Pines on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

Franklin also used the week since the win over Truckee to have his team maintain their bodies by being less physical and working on strength and being healthy. He's watched some film of Desert Pines as well.

"They have 2200 kids in their school," said Franklin of the fact that the STHS student body is half that size. "But there are just 11 guys on a team and ours are disciplined and ready to execute."

"Our kids have been working hard," added Franklin.

The school's Quarterback Club has been busy raising funds for the team's trip to Las Vegas. Franklin said the district gives them funds for rooms, transportation and meals, but extra is needed. "Five dollars is allotted for breakfast and some of our guys eat a lot more than that," he said. There is a GoFundMe account set up for those expenses: https://www.gofundme.com/south-tahoe-football-state-bound?ssid=801217245&pos=4. They have a goal of $3,000 and have raised $735 so far.

If the Vikings win their semi-final game on Saturday, they make a return trip to Las Vegas for the November 19 State Championship Game at Bishop Gorman High School.