Palo Verde should lock up its playoff spot

Adam Candee

Thursday, Oct. 31, 2002 | 9:34 a.m.

Teams ranked jointly by the Sun and the Sparks Tribune

It felt like waiting for the last winning Powerball number to flash across the TV screen. Could my perfect week of picks ship finally be coming in? Could mediocrity be a memory?

All rested on the highlights of the Bonanza-Sierra Vista game, in which the Bengals trailed by a single point after punching in a late fourth-quarter touchdown. OK, I thought, a 35-35 tie, and a good offensive team heading into overtime.

But, alas, the Bengals chose an ill-advised and ill-fated try for a two-point conversion, ending our dreams of perfection in a 35-34 defeat. A plague on both your houses, I say.

With the all-world showdown of Las Vegas and Desert Pines highlighting the schedule, there are only a couple of playoff berths left to be handed out, those being in the Northeast and Southwest divisions. Like a 3-foot Ryder Cup putt, I must concede the overall regular season picks title to Spencer Patterson, whose winning percentage is insurmountable. Kudos, old friend.

WEEK NINE MOJAVE (0-8, 0-3 NW) at PALO VERDE (5-3, 1-2 NW), 7 p.m.

Palo Verde's three losses have come by a combined six points to three ranked teams, and the Panthers have allowed just 14 points in three division games. Mojave's three division losses have come by a combined 132 points. The beauty of high school football is that none of that matters now, because the winner of this game makes the playoffs and the loser goes home. Bank on the Panthers.

Palo Verde 39, Mojave 12

RANCHO (3-5, 1-3 NE) at CHAPARRAL (3-5, 1-3 NE), 7 p.m.

The second of our two playoff play-in games this week, these two teams are much more evenly matched. The Cowboys, though, have not been the same team since the suspension of coach Ricky Watts. If Rancho can score some points, it's the Rams' game to lose.

Rancho 27, Chaparral 17

LAS VEGAS (8-0, 4-0 NE) at DESERT PINES (8-0, 4-0 NE), 7 p.m.

Simply put, if you make me choose between a stellar passing attack and a stellar rushing attack, I'll take the ground game because there are less variables involved. Revenge for Cornell Johnson and the Jaguars against the state's top-ranked team.

Desert Pines 21, Las Vegas 14

GREEN VALLEY (2-6, 2-2 SE) at CHEYENNE (6-2, 3-1 NW), 7 p.m.

This is a "get out the kinks" game for both teams, who are finished in division play and locked into their playoff seeds. After losing to Desert Pines and Centennial, Cheyenne absolutely took off and appears primed for the postseason.

Cheyenne 27, Green Valley 9

BISHOP GORMAN (5-3, 4-0 SW) at CLARK (4-4, 2-2 SW), 7 p.m.

The Gaels have wrapped up the division, and must be careful not to nap against a Clark team that desperately needs to turn it around before a likely first-round matchup at Centennial. This could be a tight one.

Bishop Gorman 14, Clark 13

WESTERN (3-5, 2-2 SW) at BONANZA (1-7, 0-4 SW), 7 p.m.

Western must win or have Clark lose to claim the No. 3 seed from the Southwest. The Warriors are in for a tough game against a Bonanza team that can score with anyone in town. Like a jilted lover who just won't learn his lesson, I'll side with the heart-breaking Bengals one last time for the upset here.

Bonanza 28, Western 24

BASIC (6-2, 2-1 SE) at CORONADO (3-5, 0-3 SE), 7 p.m.

We'll give it up for the guts of young Adrian Montano, who filled in as best he could for his brother, Chris, at QB last week in the Wolves' double-OT win. The fact remains, however, that this Basic team will go nowhere in the playoffs without its injured field leader.

Basic 21, Coronado 6

DURANGO (5-3, 3-1 SW) at SIERRA VISTA (3-5, 1-3 SW), 7 p.m.

The offense now has balance at Durango, and against either Palo Verde or Cimarron, the Blazers will be part of the most even first-round matchup. Sierra Vista is playing for pride alone, and the Lions have not been blown out in division play.

Durango 14, Sierra Vista 10

ELDORADO (2-6, 2-2 NE) at VALLEY (0-8, 0-4 NE), 7 p.m.

And the football gods let out a mighty yawn, for the game they hath scheduled meant nothing.

Eldorado 22, Valley 10

CENTENNIAL (8-0, 3-0 NW) at CIMARRON-MEMORIAL (4-4, 1-2 NW), 7 p.m.

A potential let-down game for the Bulldogs after an emotional division-clinching win over Palo Verde. Cimarron is tough, and should the Spartans finish fourth in the Northwest, Gorman is in for a big-time fight in the first round.

Centennial 14, Cimarron 3

FOOTHILL (7-1, 3-0 SE) at SILVERADO (2-6, 1-2 SE), 7 p.m.

Don't be surprised if Foothill QB Josh Daneshforooz sees significant time in a meaningless game for both teams, as he tunes back up for the playoffs.

Foothill 24, Silverado 6

Last week: 10-1 Spencer Patterson's 2002 record: 37-10 (.787) Adam Candee's 2002 record: 32-12 (.727)