Friday, Oct. 24, 2003 | 10:54 a.m.
Adam Candee covers high school sports for the Sun. Reach him at (702) 259-4085 or by e-mail at [email protected].
Seriously, weren't we just here?
That is how it feels as the regular season's final week arrives, bringing with it a second straight Desert Pines-Las Vegas showdown for the Northeast Division champinship. Even beyond that tilt, the days of preseason high hopes do not seem so far away.
Accepting that playoff time is here, there is much to be decided this week. Many playoff spots are still up for grabs and very little playoff seeding is determined.
Around the prep prognostication water cooler, our dreams are much smaller. We simply want to push our season accuracy to the 80 percent mark, which will require at least an 11-1 record on this slate.
And don't forget this important note: Prep football will be dark next weekend because of the Nevada Day holiday, so the first round of the playoffs won's start until Nov. 7.
Let's see what we can do in Week 9... Today's games, 7 p.m.
Coronado (6-2) at Basic (6-2)
The skinny: There are two truths in this game. The first is that surprising Coronado is already the Southeast Division champion. The second is that Basic is all but locked into the fourth seed, setting up an intriguing first-round game with either Las Vegas or Desert Pines. The Wolves need this one a little bit more than the Cougars.
The pick: Basic 20, Coronado 14
Desert Pines (6-2) at Las Vegas (8-0)
The skinny: The week's best game by far. Las Vegas really appears to be the city's best team and sophomore running back Eric Jordan is making a strong case for offensive player of the year honors. Desert Pines has won five consecutive games and the Jaguars are much more confident than they were weeks ago. The injury to Wildcats QB Chris Gifford clouds this a bit, but Las Vegas should have enough to win.
The pick: Las Vegas 23, Desert Pines 20
Silverado (3-5) at Foothill (7-1)
The skinny: Doug Thornhill deserves credit for getting the most out of this Silverado team, which can still finish second in the Southeast with a win in this game. That is going to be a tall order against a Foothill squad angry about losing the division to Coronado. In reality, the loss may end up being a good wake-up call for the Falcons, who will rebound.
The pick: Foothill 40, Silverado 16
Cim.-Memorial (6-2) at Centennial (4-4)
The skinny: Is any team closer to really breaking through than Centennial? The Bulldogs have been on the cusp of joining the city's best teams all year. Meanwhile, Cimarron quietly hums along under the radar, a six-win team that has lost only to No. 1 Las Vegas and No. 3 Palo Verde. In probably the most evenly matched game of the week, we think the Bulldogs have the slightest of edges.
The pick: Centennial 21, Cimarron-Memorial 20
Palo Verde (8-0) at Mojave (1-7)
The skinny: Remember last season, when Palo Verde needed to beat the Rattlers in the final week just to make the playoffs? The situation certainly looks different this year. Don't expect to see Palo Verde's starters for more than the first half as the Panthers prep for the Sunset Region playoffs.
The pick: Palo Verde 40, Mojave 20
Chaparral (2-6) at Rancho (4-4)
The skinny: Here is how weird the Northeast is: After losing six consecutive games, Chaparral can still make the playoffs with a win by at least eight points and an Eldorado loss. Rancho is in with a victory, or a loss by less than seven points and an Eldorado loss. Don't ask about the particulars -- just trust us and the tedious research we've done on the tiebreaker process.
The pick: Rancho 24, Chaparral 20
Valley (3-5) at Eldorado (2-6)
The skinny: The Northeast tiebreaker mess is a little less muddled for the Vikings and Sundevils. Valley gets in with a win or a Rancho loss. Eldorado is also in with a win. If both Eldorado and Rancho win, Valley will be eliminated. As for this game, we think Eldorado's passing attack could be tough for the Vikings to handle.
The pick: Eldorado 27, Valley 21
Cheyenne (4-4) at Green Valley (1-7)
The skinny: If your ears hurt, it is because you are hearing the screaming upset potential in this game. Cheyenne continues to confound with its inconsistent play and Gators coach Greg Murphy is familiar with the Desert Shields after facing them for four years at Centennial. We are going to ignore our gut instinct and go with the Shields.
The pick: Cheyenne 14, Green Valley 7
Clark (0-8) at Bishop Gorman (6-2)
The skinny: Clark looks for its first win. Gorman looks to complete a perfect season in the division. Neither team can affect its playoff positioning, or lack thereof. Frankly, wake us when this one's over.
The pick: Bishop Gorman 34, Clark 7
Bonanza (3-5) at Western (4-4)
The skinny: Both of these teams are already in the playoffs, so this one is mainly to determine seeding. Western wins second place and a first-round home game with a win, but could still finish fourth with a loss. Bonanza gave up a chance at second by losing to Sierra Vista. There could be some offensive here between two teams that can score and that struggle to defend.
The pick: Western 28, Bonanza 24
Sierra Vista (3-5) at Durango (3-5)
The skinny: Sierra Vista sits in the most unstable situation of any team. With a win against rival Durango and a Western loss, Sierra Vista can finish second and start the playoffs at home. With a loss to the Blazers and a Bonanza win, the Lions would be eliminated from the postseason. Durango must win by at least seven points to guarantee itself a berth. Toss a coin here.
The pick: S. Vista 21, Durango 14
Shadow Ridge (1-7) at Liberty (0-8)
The skinny: It really would be nice for the Patriots to end their season on a winning note and to avenge their first loss of the year. Unfortunately for Liberty, Shadow Ridge is simply a better team. The Mustangs may have missed their goal of finishing with an even record, but they have been competitive and that's a compliment.
The pick: Shadow Ridge 43, Liberty 7
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