Friday, Oct. 8, 2004 | 9:37 a.m.
Nick Christensen covers high school athletics for the Las Vegas Sun. Reach him at (702) 259-4085 or by e-mail at [email protected].
1. McQueen (5-0)
Roll over Elko 25-7, face woeful Wooster this week
2. Palo Verde (5-0)
Panthers get easy games out of the way early
3. Foothill (6-0)
Reminded everyone who's boss in the Southeast
4. Bishop Manogue (6-0)
Toughest test yet this week in Spanish Springs
5. Spanish Springs (5-1)
Edged No. 4 Reed 36-35 last week
6. Eldorado (4-2)
Shutout against Rancho enough for a hold
7. Reed (5-1)
Churchill County coming to make everything right
8. Las Vegas (5-1)
Back to top five if they beat Eldorado
9. Sierra Vista (5-1)
Clark so bad they cost teams positions
10. Douglas (4-1)
Win against Hug this week could make them Sierra's top seed
-- Compiled by the Las Vegas Sun and the Sparks Tribune
No coach will admit that a division title can be won in Week 2 of league play, but tonight at Las Vegas High that is likely to happen.
Sixth-ranked Eldorado takes on eighth-ranked Las Vegas in the game that will probably decide the Northeast Division title. Of course, both teams will still face a tough test in Valley and an upset-minded Desert Pines club, but even a three-way tie will give the edge to the winner of this one.
That division title is a big deal, not only from a pride perspective. There's a big dropoff between the top three teams in the Southeast Division and the fourth and fifth teams. So the pressure is all the greater as the Wildcats (5-1) host the Sundevils (4-2).
"They're a good offense, their quarterback is as good as any around as far as running his team," Vegas coach Chris Faircloth said. "He makes the right call or runs it when he needs to run it, throws it when he needs to throw it. The receiver they have (Davell Jackson) is going to be a D-I kid. But we control our own destiny, and we're going to have to play well if we're planning on beating them. I still believe we have that choice."
Faircloth is referring to Las Vegas' loss two weeks ago to Cheyenne, a game in which the Wildcats were plagued by turnovers, a game that Faircloth said is still fresh on his team's mind.
"That's something that's with us every day," he said. "We talk about it every day, if we don't prepare physically and mentally, somebody's going to go outplay us. We're going to get beat. Hopefully we've learned our lesson."
But this week's Wildcats squad is stronger than the one that lost to Cheyenne. Linebacker Dante Fielder is expected back this week, and quarterback O'Ryan Bradley returned last week for limited action and is expected to start tonight.
"I think we got a few kids healthy, and hopefully we can capitalize on their return," Faircloth said, adding that Bradley's return helps open up the offense to rely on someone other than star running back Eric Jordan. "Hopefully we can do a little bit more as far as giving the ball to a few other backs, and competing a few passes."
Eldorado coach Frank DeSantis, meanwhile, has taken the coach's mantra of "one week at a time" to a new level.
"We need to get off to a good start. The first quarter is pivotal to both teams," DeSantis said. "We have to play one at a time, play each quarter."
But if DeSantis is cautious, it's because he's been through this game before. Twice has his Sundevils team faced a team from Las Vegas' Elite Three -- Foothill, Palo Verde, and Vegas -- and twice have they lost the game late, on a last-second field goal to Foothill and on a fourth-quarter touchdown to Palo Verde.
Meanwhile in Henderson, Foothill travels to Green Valley for a game that a week ago, looked as if for certain it would settle the Southeast title.
But Green Valley gave up two late touchdowns to Coronado, and is off to an 0-1 start in league play.
The Falcons bulldozed through Liberty last week 73-0, and Fenton pulled his starters in the first quarter, not even bringing them back up for a workout in the second half.
A loss tonight could sink Green Valley (4-2) to a third seed in the Southeast, at best.
Spread around town
It's hard to tell what's more exciting -- these five weeks or the five weeks that follow.
Of course, these are great because every team is playing, and anything could happen. Some things probably won't (Clark making the playoffs, Canyon Springs finishing above .500), but some just might (Valley taking a second seed, Sierra Vista going 9-1).
Anyway, off to the picks, all games at 7 tonight except Valley at Rancho.
The call: Desert Pines 34, Chaparral 20.
Everybody's looking for Vegas, now that the 'Cats have shown a flaw (turnovers). Look for Las Vegas to play cautiously.
The call: Las Vegas 21, Eldorado 18.
The call: Valley 40, Rancho 14.
The call: Foothill 24, Green Valley 20.
The call: Liberty 33, Basic 14.
The call: Silverado 20, Coronado 13.
The call: Cimarron 44, Centennial 14.
The call: Bonanza 60, Clark 6.
The call: Bishop Gorman 38, Durango 21.
The call: Sierra Vista 21, Western 7.
The call: Palo Verde 55, Mojave 14.
The call: Cheyenne 20, Shadow Ridge 16.
The call: Boulder City 42, Del Sol 21.
The call: Pahrump Valley 66, Spring Valley 7.
The call: Virgin Valley 50, Canyon Springs 24.
Off the uprights: Faith Lutheran at Moapa Valley.
Last week: 11-3 (.785).
Season: 64-15 (.810).
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