Reese Cutting Foes to Pieces for Littlerock

As Littlerock High’s Devon Reese started his third varsity season this fall, his first as a full-time starter, he was hell-bent on making up for lost yardage.

His primary goal: Rush for 2,000.

But after a discouraging 23-8 loss at Las Vegas Valley, Reese quickly reformed himself. All personal goals went out the window.

“I was into the individual stuff,” he said. “I let go of that. Now I’d just like to make all league.”

Reese has converted to the fundamental “team first” teachings of Coach Jim Bauer and has become one of the team’s strongest leaders.

Littlerock (6-1, 1-0 in the Golden League) plays at third-ranked Antelope Valley tonight at 7:30 and could be a contender after many picked the Lobos to finish last.

Reese has rushed for 750 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging six yards a carry. And yet Michael Woods, with 819 yards, is the top ground-gainer on what is the region’s second-best running team.

Reese’s rushing production was limited during a three-game stretch in which he had to fill in for injured Myles Meeden at quarterback.

But Reese led the Lobos to three close victories, two in come-from-behind fashion.

“I really love running back, especially in our offense,” Reese said. “But at this point, I’ll play whatever position it takes for us to win.”

Each day Reese and his teammates review the “pyramid of success” Bauer has drawn on the training room chalkboard.

The pyramid has four levels. To get past the first level, the team must master the fundamentals. It has, considering Littlerock has won six games in a row while running a simple, predictable, conservative rushing attack.

At the top of the pyramid is “championship.” The Lobos have not won a title since the school opened in 1989.

“I feel our team’s next step is to take that final level,” Reese said.

Standing in the way is two-time defending champion Antelope Valley, which has reached the Southern Section Division II championship game two years in a row.

The Antelopes last year routed a seemingly more talented Lobo team than this, but that team never bought into Bauer’s pyramid.

“The athleticism on that team was outstanding, but I don’t think we had good chemistry,” Reese said.

“But everybody on this team hangs together, and it’s gotten to the point where we feel we can win.”

Leading the charge is Reese, who carries a 3.53 grade-point average, ranks in the top 30 in a senior class of more than 440 and is starting to get the attention of college recruiters.

“This kid is not spending time worrying about his rushing yards, that’s the story,” Bauer said.

“And here’s a guy who had a chance to rush for 2,000 yards.”

Reese might have to settle for 2,000 in his career. He has 1,796.

But he just might get that championship.