Picks: Palo Verde, Durango figure to score first-week victories

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Aug. 31, 2000 | 10:29 a.m.

Here we go again. Time for the weekly picks local prep fans have grown to love and area coaches have come to hate. Call them bulletin board fodder if you want, but after last year's 82-21 record (.796 winning percentage) we all know I'll be right a lot more often than I'll be wrong. And remember, these are for entertainment purposes only.

WEEK ONE

Friday's games

VALLEY at PALO VERDE, 7 p.m.

The Vikings may have the two best athletes on the field in quarterback Demetrius Ford and tailback/cornerback James Sims, but the Panthers have the numbers and the size up front on both sides of the ball. A close game turns into a green wave in the second half, as the hosts wear down the Vikings.

Pick - Palo Verde 28, Valley 14

GREEN VALLEY at DURANGO, 7 p.m.

An interesting matchup between two programs with something to prove. Trailblazer fans will be watching to see how their team performs in the post-Jamaal Brimmer era, while the Gator faithful will turn out to see if this year's squad can be more competitive than the 2000 version. The Blazers avoid the upset, but the Gators hold their own.

Pick - Durango 20, Green Valley 13

ELDORADO at CHEYENNE, 7 p.m.

The Desert Shields have plenty of speed, but do they have the size up front to slow down Eldorado's Steven Jackson, the state's top returning running back? And on the other side of the ball, can the Sundevils contend with Cheyenne's stable of quick, slashing runners? In other words, this one has high scoring written all over it.

Pick - Eldorado 34, Cheyenne 27

SILVERADO at WESTERN, 7 p.m.

The biggest school in the state takes on the little engine that could. Though they always lag behind their area peers in overall numbers, the Warriors manage to put a contender on the field year in and year out. Another high-scoring affair, with the team that scores last coming out on top.

Pick - Western 26, Silverado 24

BASIC at BISHOP GORMAN, 7 p.m.

With three key players going down in the preseason, the Gaels will be looking to take a big lead and get their stars to the sideline.

Pick - Gorman 28, Basic 7

CHAPARRAL at BONANZA

Never underestimate the importance of an early season game. The Cowboys dropped their first two contests last year and never recovered. It won't happen again.

Pick - Chaparral 35, Bonanza 14

RANCHO at MOJAVE, 7 p.m.

The Rattlers are ready to shed the "new school" label once and for all, and what better way to do that than by beating one of the state's oldest programs.

Pick - Mojave 26, Rancho 13

FOOTHILL at CLARK, 7 p.m.

The Falcons will be much-improved in 2000, but the Chargers have too much team speed for a second-year club to contend with.

Pick - Clark 20, Foothill 10

CENTENNIAL at DESERT PINES

An expansion battle, one year later. The Bulldogs take a commanding 2-0 series lead on their rivals to the east.

Pick - Centennial 21, Desert Pines 13

LAS VEGAS at LA COSTA CANYON (Calif.)

As always, the out-of-state rule applies. Southern Nevada football has come a long way, but not far enough to topple this solid San Diego-area team.

Pick - La Costa 28, Las Vegas 20

Saturday's Game

CIMARRON-MEMORIAL at DELTA (Utah), 1 p.m.

Delta hung with Sunrise champ Las Vegas last year and beat the Wildcats in 1998. Does that mean I'm ready to pick against the Spartans? No chance. Cimarron is the exception to all rules.

Cimarron 28, Delta 10

This season: 0-0. Last season: 82-21 (.796).