Count on Palo Verde, Las Vegas to bring home titles

Adam Candee

Thursday, Nov. 21, 2002 | 9:16 a.m.

The best weapon in any reporter's arsenal is the impossible-to-define quality called sense of perception. Most days, I choose to believe I possess some semblance of this ability, and what you are about to read is a succinct example of what I can do:

In the past two weeks, I have compiled a 10-2 picks record. Both losses have come by picking against Palo Verde. Therefore, I surmise that picking against Palo Verde is not the smartest idea.

Logic, at its most pure and unrefined. I'm no Mensa candidate, but that reasoning appears to make perfect sense, especially if I have any intention of catching former prep guru Spencer Patterson for the overall picks title. (I do not assume that you are diligently keeping score at home and awaiting the outcome of the Prep Picks Championship. For your patience, my thanks.)

The intrigue this week certainly appears to be on the Sunrise side, where only the winner (or, more aptly, the survivor) of the Desert Pines-Las Vegas rematch will advance to the state playoffs. On to the action ...

Friday's Games PALO VERDE (NW-3, 8-3) at CHEYENNE (NW-2, 9-2), 7 p.m.

FOR PALO VERDE TO WIN: Ride the magic. Palo Verde proved it can hang with anyone in the state during the regular season. For a while, though, the Panthers took on the look of a team just good enough to lose the big game. No longer is that true -- Palo Verde ripped a good Durango team to start the playoffs before stunning Centennial in double overtime last week. The double-wing offense is producing points, and the Panthers boast what might be the area's best defense, anchored by LB Jordan Wilmore and CB Gerard Lawson. The return of LB Danny Scolari will help as well. The Panthers must not allow Cheyenne to get to the edges, as few teams are as fast as the Desert Shields. Keep the game plan simple, as well, and cut out the mistakes. Sure, that's true for every team, but Palo Verde does not have the offense to play catch-up football.

FOR CHEYENNE TO WIN: Yin and Yang, baby, Yin and Yang. It's all about a balanced offensive attack against Palo Verde, and Cheyenne has the tools to do it right. David Peeples and Travonte Darby must key a multi-dimensional ground game that does not allow Palo Verde's defense to get any rhythm. The Shields are a fast team as well, and coach Dave Snyder must find ways to exploit that. It wouldn't hurt to take a shot or two down the field. On defense, it's either hold your gaps and stay at home, or play assignment football against Palo Verde. The Desert Shields are very strong in the secondary as well. If Cheyenne can find a way to get a defensive or special teams score, the odds swing way in its favor.

KEY MATCHUP: Both teams vs. themselves. These are evenly matched teams that can run the ball and defend as well. Both have momentum and both believe they have enough talent to compete with anyone. But costly mistakes at key times nearly sank both Cheyenne and Palo Verde at one time or another. Palo Verde's offense will have trouble erasing a deficit, and Cheyenne's offense would prefer not to have to do so against that Palo Verde defense.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Palo Verde QB Jarrell Harrison. The sophomore has not been asked to carry the Panthers offense this year. If Cheyenne slows the Palo Verde running game, though, the difference could be whether or not the youngster can make a play to keep the ball moving.

BOTTOM LINE: Both teams already are in the state tournament, and the advantage of winning and thereby being forced to go to freezing Reno for a likely Thanksgiving weekend date with McQueen is questionable at best. Palo Verde proved its resilience last week, regrouping from blowing a 21-7 fourth-quarter lead to survive and advance. Cheyenne has not lost since Oct. 4 against Centennial, including a 7-6 win over Palo Verde. Right now, the Panthers have that destiny feel to them, and that makes for the slightest of edges.

Palo Verde 21, Cheyenne 12

DESERT PINES (NE-2, 10-1) at LAS VEGAS (NE-1, 11-0), 7 p.m.

FOR DESERT PINES TO WIN: Slow down. Take it easy. Relax. Get the idea? The Jaguars came out wound tighter than a baseball against Las Vegas in the regular season finale. In doing so, they fell behind 30-13 at halftime after crippling themselves with mental breakdowns. Once the jitters faded, Desert Pines shined in the second half and nearly upset the Wildcats. RB Cornell Johnson needs to gain more consistent yardage -- a big chunk of his 167 yards against Las Vegas came on an 80-yard touchdown run. Desert Pines must try to break the Wildcats' rhythm by keeping their offense off the field for longer periods. Desert Pines is skilled enough to win this game. Now, it must prove that it is ready to step into the big time.

FOR LAS VEGAS TO WIN: Second verse, same as the first. Simply stated, Las Vegas is the best football team in the state at this moment. The Wildcats are even better than they were three weeks ago, because overmatched playoff opponents Silverado and Basic allowed them to steady their ground attack. In beating Desert Pines last time, the Wildcats exploited the talents of WR Corey Williams early (211 receiving yards), set up an effective running game late, and made opportunistic defensive and special teams plays throughout. The one flaw that the Jaguars exposed was pass coverage, and the Wildcats must pay more attention to the deep passing attack.

KEY MATCHUP: Las Vegas RB Ryan Meuir vs. Desert Pines front seven. Not the running back versus defensive pairing you expected to see here, right? Cornell Johnson will get his yards, no matter who is defending him and how they are doing it. It is imperative, however, for Desert Pines to wrap up Meuir, who has sparked the Wildcats in the past two weeks. If Las Vegas establishes a consistent running game, as it did in the fourth quarter of its earlier win over the Jaguars, then the Wildcats will be nearly impossible to stop. Meuir ran for more than 200 yards against Basic last week.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Desert Pines QB Marcel Johnson, who nearly slayed the Wildcats three weeks ago. He showed the ability to connect on the long pass to stretch the defense, and last week against Foothill, his ability to evade tacklers and create opportunities was the difference.

BOTTOM LINE: One area coach made a great point last week: The state champion is the team to beat until someone proves otherwise. This holds particularly true for Las Vegas, which rides the line between confidence and swagger better than any high school team in a while. The champs must be careful in this game, though, because Desert Pines learned that the Wildcats are not invincible by nearly mounting a huge second-half comeback in the regular season finisher. Remember: The key word is 'nearly.'

Las Vegas 27, Desert Pines 24

Last week: 3-1 Spencer Patterson's 2002 record: 37-10 (.787) Adam Candee's 2002 record: 51-16 (.761)

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