Photo via Football Scoop

When San Diego State plays at UNLV on Saturday night, both teams will wear red ribbon helmet decals with "Las Vegas" on them, to recognize those lost, the survivors and those who helped save lives during last Sunday's concert shooting that left 59 dead and over 500 injured. 

Here is the special helmet @unlvfootball will wear Saturday in tribute to the victims and in honor of the heroes from Sunday. #VegasStrong pic.twitter.com/ojJ49mhSFl

— UNLV Athletics (@UNLVathletics) October 4, 2017

Scott Gleeson of USA Today Sports says "Heroes Night" will include a pregame ceremony, and attendees will receive replica helmet stickers. 

UNLV's football team will keep the ribbon design the rest of this season, as will all other Rebels sports.

“Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the victims and the families impacted by this senseless act of violence,” UNLV director of athletics Desiree Reed-Francois said. “While football is just a game, it can also serve as a rallying point of unity and allow all of us to recognize the incredible heroism displayed by so many this week. We are all extremely proud of our community's response over the last couple of days.”

Football back in Key West

Tuesday, the Key West High School football team played its first game in 32 days following Hurricane Irma, as it traveled 160 miles to Miami for a 48-13 win over La Salle, which bumped the Conchs' record to 3-0.

Walter Villa of USA Today High School Sports detailed how Irma impacted the players.

“The neighborhood just looked different after the hurricane,” offensive lineman and linebacker Ty Torres said. “The trees – you could see straight through them. Everything was blown away. It looked like a bomb went off.”

In a great show of sportsmanship and compassion, prior to the game, La Salle captains presented Key West a check for $3,000, money the school's students raised.

Class Act: Before today's first game for @ConchsFootball since Hurricane Irma, La Salle presented Key West with a $3000 donation. @FHSAA pic.twitter.com/a2AHt7V43U

— Jason Beede (@therealBeede) October 3, 2017

“This is our mission as a Catholic high school,” La Salle coach Matt Dillon said. “We’ve also raised money for (earthquake victims in) Mexico and (Hurricane Maria victims in) Puerto Rico.”

Key West coach John Hughes said the donation was greatly appreciated. “That was fantastic,” he said. “It was a classy gesture by a class program.”

NFL Flag making a difference

Football is a sport filled with great moments, at every level of play, like that of 7-year-old Malachi Pettway - born with cerebral palsy - scoring his first touchdown in a recent NFL Flag football game.

 

Freeney talks sports specialization

In a blog post discussing the five toughest players he ever faced, former Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons defensive end Dwight Freeney tells readers what once chased him out of the sport, and how he developed the skills that eventually put him 18th on the NFL's all-time sacks list. 

Photo via NY Daily News

If there was ever an argument against sports specialization for young athletes, this is it:

“I tried to play football when I was in like the fifth grade, but I didn’t last more than a week or two. I was a big kid, so the coaches put me on the offensive line, and I hated it. I didn’t want to be in the trenches, pushing dudes around. I wanted to be out catching passes, or on defense, where I could (hit) people. You know, the fun stuff. So I quit football and went and played soccer. That’s where I get my footwork from — the soccer field. I get my hand-eye coordination from playing baseball my whole life. Shoot, even the move on the football field I’m most known for — my spin move — originated on the basketball court. I used to play power forward in high school, and when I would get the ball in the post, I would do a drop step and spin around the defender to the basket. It was my go-to move. I got called a lot for traveling, but I also got a lot of buckets.”

As for those five toughest players, Freeney named Steve McNair, Jonathan Ogden, Michael Vick, Tom Brady and Maurice Jones-Drew.

Long-time Mission Viejo coach to retire after season

Photo via Orange County Register

Dan Albano of the Orange County Register reports this will be Mission Viejo coach Bob Johnson's last year at the helm. 

“I still got it in me … but it’s time,” said Johnson, 72, Orange County’s all-time leader in victories. “My time is spent and I’m going to enjoy some stuff with my wife (Debbie) and do things we haven’t had a chance to do. Just time to depart, and we’re going to be good next year again.”

Also known as an elite private quarterback coach, Johnson led El Toro to three California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section titles in the 1980s. Since taking over at Mission Viejo in '99, he’s coached the Diablos to six CIF-SS championships and a CIF state crown in 2015. His 339 victories rank third in California history.

Jersey prep player sparks football interest in fellow females

Photo via Aristide Economopoulos/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

After a previous female student tried and failed twice, Deanna Guzman made the football team at Newark Collegiate Academy this season. 

Barry Carter of the Star Ledger says the 18-year-old offensive tackle started a trend at the charter school.

"I have on a daily basis a number of female students coming to me saying, 'Coach I can play football just as well,’” NCA coach Darrin Davis said.

A speeding motorist struck Guzman while she was in middle school. Wires hold together her right shoulder and arm. A rod from her left knee is connected to her hip. She had to learn how to walk again.

"She's probably one of the hardest workers on the team,'' Davis said.