Columnist Adam Candee: Coronado gets nod to advance in Sunrise

Adam Candee

Friday, Nov. 14, 2003 | 10:19 a.m.

Adam Candee covers high school sports for the Sun. Reach him at (702) 259-4085 or by e-mail at candee@lasvegassun.com.

Amidst the rain and cold that washed through the Valley this week, we felt a comforting warm glow here next to the humming Prep Prognostication machine. That is the feeling afforded by an 8-0 record in the quarterfinal round.

But all the frivolity is in the past. Another week of action is upon us. In the Sunrise Region, these are the most important two games of the season because the semifinal winners both qualify for the 4A State Tournament. Tonight's games, 7 p.m.

Sunrise Region Desert Pines (NE-2, 7-3) at Coronado (SE-1, 8-2)

The skinny: Every year, it seems a team that emerges from the shadows. And every time we think Coronado might be at the end of its stunning run, the Cougars come up with another way to keep it all going. They displayed an improved passing game in posting 48 points against Eldorado and that nasty, hard-nosed defense is a great equalizer.

That means Desert Pines has no room for the type of errors that plagued its loss to Las Vegas and its early minutes last week against Silverado. That being said, we think Coronado is too solid to miss out on a state berth.

The pick: Coronado 27, Desert Pines 13

Foothill (SE-2, 9-1) at Las Vegas (NE-1, 10-0)

The skinny: This is as good as it gets. The undefeated Wildcats proved as resilient as they were talented last week in winning without their starting quarterback and running back.

On the other side are the Falcons, a veteran group only stuck with the second seed because their lone loss came to Coronado. Ray Fenton's group woke up after that loss and is arguably the best team in the city at this moment. The potential return of tailback John Crowley is huge.

The pick: Foothill 16, Las Vegas 14

Sunset Region Cim.-Memorial (NW-3, 7-3) at Palo Verde (NW-1, 10-0)

The skinny: Last time these teams hooked up, we witnessed Palo Verde at its methodical and calculating best. The Panthers pounded away with their running game and wore down the Spartans. Cimarron will need its best performance of the season.

The pick: Palo Verde 28, Cimarron-Memorial 20