Nevada
NSU flag football team’s undefeated inaugural season ends prematurely
As a rule, first-year sports programs are not expected to be competitive. It can take time to build an administration, coaching staff and team capable of competing with the best.
Nevada State University’s fledgling flag football team threw that rule out the window this year.
The Scorpions just finished an undefeated inaugural season in which they won eight of 13 games by shutout while outscoring opponents by an average of 42 points. They built such a reputation that their final two opponents canceled games that would have been played this week.
“How our season has gone, teams don’t want to come out here to lose,” said coach Brandon Pappillion, who coached at Bishop Gorman before taking over at NSU. “It was very disappointing. One canceled, then the next day the other called to cancel.”
The Scorpions surprised opponents, but they did not surprise themselves.
“Going undefeated was our goal from the beginning,” Pappillion said.
But there were no playoff wins. Though the Scorpions have applied to join the NAIA next year, they were unaffiliated this season and were ineligible for postseason play. The NAIA is a similar to the NCAA but consists of many smaller and private universities.
Pappillion said he can wait, as he is confident he’ll have another dominant squad next year.
Easy to recruit
Unlike coaches of most first-year programs, Pappillion was able to recruit many of the top players in the country. He didn’t have to look very far, as Clark County has become the country’s hotbed for flag football talent. All 15 of his players came from Southern Nevada high schools.
Former Liberty standout Kaylie Phillips, a quarterback and defensive back, said she knew from the start that the team would be competitive in its first season.
“I knew we’d do really good, but to go undefeated with all the shutouts was the surprising part,” the freshman said. “But I never thought we’d lose, even in the close games.”
There weren’t many of those. The Scorpions defeated Arizona State 21-12 and Arizona Christian 28-26. The remainder of the victories could be classified as blowouts, including last month’s 83-0 trouncing of USC.
The Scorpions gained so much attention that Phillips and teammate Brooklin Hill recently were named to the 24-player US Women’s National Team roster. Training camp begins this month, with the IFAF World Championship scheduled for this summer in Germany.
Elite athletes
Hill, a former Desert Oasis standout, played her freshman season at the University of St. Mary in Kansas before returning home for her sophomore year. She said her homecoming has been a welcome step up.
“(St. Mary) was a good learning experience,” said Hill, who jumped on the offer to transfer to NSU’s first-year program. “I was able to get something out of it. But with the coaches and the players here, we have a winning culture and we believe we have to be the best.”
Pappillion said that culture did not come by accident.
“I think Nevada has the best talent across the country,” he said. “We’ve been doing this longer than anybody else because we were one of the first states to start flag football. We have a little advantage.”
If all goes as planned, the Scorpions will qualify for postseason play next year.
“The girls knew that this year was a chance to get their feet wet,” Pappillion said. “But they all want to play for a championship. That has always been their goal.”
Contact Jeff Wollard at jwollard@reviewjournal.com.
Arbor View’s Risden Miller, right, spikes the ball against Palo Verde’s Evan Ditmar (1) during a 5A boys volleyball game at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Arbor View’s Luke Hashimoto (1) makes a save during a 5A boys volleyball game against Palo Verde at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Arbor View’s Risden Miller (10) sends the ball past Palo Verde’s Jagger Mendenhall (4) during a 5A boys volleyball game at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Arbor View celebrates after defeating Palo Verde in a 5A boys volleyball game at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Palo Verde’s Ben Fife, left, gets the ball around Arbor View defenders during a 5A boys volleyball game at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Palo Verde’s Evan Ditmar (1) tries to save the ball during a 5A boys volleyball game at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Palo Verde’s Andrew Gutierrez (7) attacks during a 5A boys volleyball game at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Arbor View’s Graham Blanchard, right, attacks during a 5A boys volleyball game against Palo Verde at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Arbor View’s Luke Hashimoto serves the ball to Palo Verde during a 5A boys volleyball game at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Palo Verde’s Eli Hernandez (6) hits the ball during a 5A boys volleyball game at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Arbor View’s Gunnar Robinson (7) gets to the ball during a 5A boys volleyball game against Palo Verde at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Arbor View’s Kenyon Wickliffe, right, attacks the ball during a 5A boys volleyball game against Palo Verde at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Palo Verde’s Jagger Mendenhall (4) sets the ball during a 5A boys volleyball game at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Palo Verde’s Evan Ditmar (1) looks to attack during a 5A boys volleyball game at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Arbor View’s Kenyon Wickliffe (17) looks to block Palo Verde’s Andrew Gutierrez (7) during a 5A boys volleyball game at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Arbor View’s Risden Miller reacts after a play against Palo Verde during a 5A boys volleyball game at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Arbor View’s Risden Miller, right, and Arbor View’s Kenyon Wickliffe, partially obscured, defend against an attack from Palo Verde during a 5A boys volleyball game at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Palo Verde’s Ben Fife (2) hits the ball during a 5A boys volleyball game at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Palo Verde’s Andrew Gutierrez, left, goes for a backward attack during a 5A boys volleyball game at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
An attack from Palo Verde’s Ben Fife (2) gets past Arbor View defenders during a 5A boys volleyball game at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Palo Verde players huddle during a 5A boys volleyball game at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Arbor View’s Graham Blanchard, center right, looks to attack the ball during a 5A boys volleyball game against Palo Verde at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Palo Verde’s Eli Hernandez (6) hits the ball during a 5A boys volleyball game at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Arbor View’s Keagan Sugden (9) sets the ball during a 5A boys volleyball game against Palo Verde at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Palo Verde’s Evan Ditmar (1) looks to attack during a 5A boys volleyball game at Arbor View High School on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
This Nevada city came close to the top 10 for retirees
One Nevada city nearly cracked the top 10 for retirement nationwide. Here’s what to know.
People looking to retire may think of Florida as their first choice to spend their golden years, but it’s not just the Sunshine State in WalletHub’s ranking of the best retirement towns in the United States. Cities in Minnesota, Georgia, Wyoming and Ohio also earned top spots on the list.
It may surprise people that one Nevada city nearly made WalletHub’s top 10. Las Vegas led the state in the ranking, while Reno landed further down the list.
WalletHub used data from federal agencies and national organizations, sorting it into categories of affordability, activities, quality of life and health care to determine its ranking.
Here’s a look at which Nevada city is the best in the state to retire to, why it ranked where it did and the other cities in Nevada and nationally that made the list.
What is Nevada’s best retirement town?
Las Vegas was named the best retirement town in Nevada, earning the No. 11 spot nationally.
What are the pros of retiring in Nevada?
Las Vegas ranked high in WalletHub’s categories for activities (No. 6 nationally) and affordability (No. 13).
The activities category is driven by access to recreation and senior centers per capita, along with fishing facilities, golf courses, museums, theaters, art galleries, music venues and bingo halls. It also factors in volunteer opportunities and overall recreation friendliness.
Affordability is largely based on adjusted cost of living compared to other cities. It also factors in tax friendliness, retiree tax burdens and the cost of adult day health care.
What is the downside of living in Nevada?
Meanwhile, Las Vegas ranked low in quality of life (No. 106) and health care (No. 165).
Quality of life was determined mostly by mild weather. To a lesser degree, the category is also created using data that shows how walkable the city is, transit access and the amount of people older than 65 in the city that are living in poverty, to name a few.
The health care category looks at death rates, suicide rates, life expectancy and substance abuse among seniors, along with the number of health care facilities and access to specialized care.
What is the #1 best place to retire?
Here are the cities that made WalletHub’s top 10 best cities to retire, Las Vegas barely missing the top 10 list.
- Orlando, Florida
- Scottsdale, Arizona
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Miami, Florida
- Tampa, Florida
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Casper, Wyoming
Here are the Nevada cities that made the list, including their national ranking.
- Las Vegas (No. 11 nationally)
- Henderson (No. 59)
- Reno (No. 57)
- North Las Vegas (No. 76)
LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The third annual Paiute Spring Fest was held Saturday in Summerlin, spotlighting those indigenous to Southern Nevada.
The event featured music, dancing and arts and crafts. Organizers said it also serves as a way to talk with the community about conservation and educate them about the intertribal connection the Las Vegas Valley is part of.
MORE ON FOX5: Filipino Town Las Vegas celebrates first anniversary as official cultural district
“It’s really important to, especially for the Paiute Spring Fest, like, this is a time of renewal. This is a time to rejoice, to celebrate, and let people know that we’re still here,” Douglas said. “You know, people think that our native cultures are something of the past, but we’re a big, thriving community.”
Douglas said the vending events they put on will soon be opening up in a brick and mortar store in the art district this summer.
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