Any concerns about the Arbor View football team after an 0-3 start were put to rest Thursday night.
Arbor View showed it was still the team to beat in the newly formed CCSD independent Division I West League, as the Aggies, No. 5 in the Review-Journal’s Southern Nevada rankings, rolled to a 55-34 home win over rival No. 4 Centennial in the league opener.
The Aggies (1-3, 1-0 Division I West) had managed 31 points in their first three games, which were all against out-of-state opponents. Two losses were by one possession and the Aggies were coming off a 44-0 loss to nationally ranked Hamilton (Arizona) last week.
But on Thursday, Arbor View had no problems scoring on Centennial (2-3, 0-1). The Aggies led 41-14 at halftime and scored on all six first-half possessions.
It was the running game that stood out for Arbor View early, with the Aggies rushing for 161 yards in the first half.
That opened things up for Arbor View’s dynamic passing attack as Oregon State commit Thaddeus Thatcher accounted for five of the Aggies’ first-half scores with three passing touchdowns and two rushing scores.
It appeared Arbor View and Centennial would be in an early track meet early as the teams traded touchdowns — first a 9-yard pass from Thatcher to Texas A&M commit Damani Warren for Arbor View and a 30-yard pass from Centennial QB Blake Nadler to Minnesota commit Jayden Thomas — and the game tied at 7-7 midway through the first quarter.
But everything turned Arbor View’s way after taking a 14-7 lead on a 12-yard TD pass from Thatcher to Michael Gibbs on fourth down late in the first quarter.
Arbor View’s defense forced a fumble after Nadler completed a first down that Drew Gatewood-Peterson recovered. Thatcher used his legs, powering through on a 1-yard QB sneak as the Aggies took a 21-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The rout was on as Thatcher scrambled in the second quarter for a 27-yard TD run, and after Arbor View recovered the ensuing kickoff, Thatcher connected with UCLA commit TE Zac Fares for a 29-yard TD as the Aggies extended their lead to 34-7 with six minutes before halftime.
Thatcher finished with 186 passing yards and three touchdowns and 51 rushing yards with three rushing scores. Warren added 74 receiving yards on four catches and a touchdown.
Senior running back Jamar McGee led the Aggies with 162 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Nadler had 259 passing yards and three touchdowns for Centennial. Nadler threw two touchdowns in the second half as the Bulldogs tried to rally, but the first-half deficit and Arbor View’s firepower on offense were too much to overcome.
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.
