Thursday, Oct. 17, 2002 | 8:49 a.m.
Teams ranked jointly by the Sun and the Sparks Tribune
look deeper into the season's seventh week. A number of games carry big-time importance for playoff positioning, especially for those looking to avoid unfavorable first-round matchups against the cream of the crop.
The stretch run is here not only for area prepsters, but also for our expert prognostication staff. Of course, you wouldn't want to make a wager based on our shaky advice over the past two weeks. But like any confident (or overconfident) forecaster, we always believe a turnaround is just over the rainbow. Here we go ...
Friday's Games CIMARRON-MEMORIAL (3-3, 1-1 NW) at CHEYENNE (4-2, 1-1 NW), 7 p.m.
The winner of this one gets the inside track to the No. 2 seed in the tough Northwest. Toss a coin with these two evenly matched teams. Ours lands with the underrated Spartans.
Cimarron-Memorial 13, Cheyenne 7
CORONADO (3-3, 0-2 SE) at PALO VERDE (4-2, 1-1 NW), 7 p.m.
Consider this non-league game to be the Hangover Bowl, as formerly winless Green Valley ripped Coronado and Palo Verde dropped a stunner to Cheyenne last week. The Panthers need to get the offense back on track, and they will.
Palo Verde 21, Coronado 6
BASIC (5-1, 1-0 SE) at FOOTHILL (5-1, 1-0 SE), 7 p.m.
Two questions to answer here: How healthy is Foothill and can Basic score at will on a tougher opponent? To the latter, we say no. The Southeast title likely goes to the victor. Another toss-up game here.
Foothill 18, Basic 15
SILVERADO (2-4, 1-1 SE) at GREEN VALLEY (1-5, 1-1 SE), 7 p.m.
The records don't show it, but this is a huge game. The winner keeps hopes alive for the a top-two playoff seed, which means avoiding Las Vegas or Desert Pines in the first round. Yet another coin-tosser.
Green Valley 20, Silverado 16
MOJAVE (0-6, 0-1 NE) at CENTENNIAL (6-0, 1-0 NW), 7 p.m.
Uh oh.
Centennial 30, Mojave 0
VALLEY (0-6, 0-2 NE) at LAS VEGAS (6-0, 2-0 NE), 7 p.m.
Uh oh Part II.
Las Vegas 40, Valley 0
RANCHO (3-3, 1-1 NE) at DESERT PINES (6-0, 2-0 NE), 7 p.m.
On the question of Desert Pines' focus in the weak Northeast, Cornell Johnson responded with five TDs last week. Will the real Rancho Rams please stand up?
Desert Pines 28, Rancho 13
SIERRA VISTA (2-4, 0-2 SW) at BISHOP GORMAN (3-3, 2-0 SW), 7 p.m.
These teams are headed in opposite directions. The Gaels have scraped out two straight last-second wins to steady the ship, while the Lions have dropped four in a row. After its awful start, Gorman is about to find itself 3-0 in division and looking to a final-week showdown at Clark.
Bishop Gorman 20, Sierra Vista 10
WESTERN (2-4, 1-1 SW) at CLARK (4-2, 2-0 SW), 7 p.m.
The Chargers are repeating their 2001 performance, rebounding from a shaky start to get hot in division play. Run the win streak to five.
Clark 20, Western 6
DURANGO (3-3, 1-1 SW) at BONANZA (1-5, 0-2 SW), 7 p.m.
The Sleeper Watch is now on at Durango. With a healthy Allen McIntyre, the Blazers ripped Western last week and they could get hot in a hurry down the stretch. Poor Bonanza -- the offense is pretty good, but it just can't stop anyone on defense.
Durango 29, Bonanza 20
ELDORADO (1-5, 1-1 NE) at CHAPARRAL (2-4, 0-2 NE), 7 p.m.
At least the Desert Pines-Las Vegas stretch is over for the Cowboys.
Chaparral 27, Eldorado 14
Last week: 7-4 Spencer Patterson's 2002 record: 37-10 (.787) Adam Candee's 2002 record: 14-8 (.636)
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