Columnist Nick Christensen: Can Shadow Ridge solve the Palo Verde problem?

Nick Christensen

Friday, Oct. 15, 2004 | 9:41 a.m.

Nick Christensen covers high school athletics for the Las Vegas Sun. Reach him at (702) 259-4085 or by e-mail at nick.christensen@lasvegassun.com.

With their mystifying double-wing offense guiding them to a 6-0 start to 2004, the Palo Verde Panthers are leading the Southern 4A schools in points scored.

But every so often, an opposing coach comes up with something new for the Panthers, as is the case with Shadow Ridge's J.D. Johnson. Palo Verde plays host to the Mustangs tonight at 7 in Summerlin.

"The thing is, this is our third year we've run it," Palo Verde coach Darwin Rost said. "We've seen a lot, and we know there's a lot more to see. The kids are real well schooled with their assignments, so no matter what we see hopefully we can adjust to it."

Johnson has been talking about this week's game and his team's planned defensive adjustments since before the season started.

"I tell the kids, nobody expects us to beat Palo Verde," he said. "So maybe we go in and shock the world. Who knows?"

The list of defenses Rost has seen since he put in the double-wing reads like a deck of cards.

"The two basic defenses people try to run against us are the six-two and the five-three, also a seven diamond to a four-four," he said. "We've actually seen teams put 10 guys on the line of scrimmage against us."

The closest game this year for the Panthers was their 20-14 win against Eldorado to conclude non-league play in September.

"We had a really good game against Eldorado in the sense of Eldorado is a real good ballclub that's proven themselves," he said. "Since then, we've gotten better. That was the only game we've had to play four quarters."

Palo Verde's scoring and defensive numbers -- the Panthers also have the lowest points allowed number, averaging six per game -- are bolstered by opponents such as Basic, Western, Centennial, and Mojave, which are a combined 6-19.

Even with the strong opponent with a focus on this game, Rost said even the newcomers have gotten on the right page with his offense.

"We have five kids back from last year's group, now they have six games under their belt," he said. "We'll find out how we'll do tomorrow night with our adjustments ... especially with someone putting in a defense supposedly we haven't seen."

Spread around town

A few teams are fighting for their seasons tonight as we head into week three of league play.

Liberty, Chaparral and Rancho essentially must win to keep from being eliminated from playoff contention tonight. On the same front, it's a win-and-you're-in for Eldorado, Palo Verde, Valley and Sierra Vista, at least by our math.

Some games of interest this week -- one team in the Southwest will get into the win column for the first -- and possibly only time this year. Coronado's going to try to prove its upset of Foothill last year that mucked up the entire Sunrise playoff picture wasn't a fluke. And, one of the better local rivalries moves to a new stage for the first time as Sir Herkimer's Bone will be awarded to Las Vegas at Rancho's temporary digs at Canyon Springs, which I suppose is better than losing to your rival at your home stadium.

Also, watch for a key North score this week -- top-ranked McQueen travels across Reno to meet No. 7 Reed in the first game of a gauntlet for the three top teams in the High Desert League. Next week is the game of the year when No. 4 Manogue travels to McQueen, and the week after that, the year concludes with Manogue at Reed. We're saying it right now -- two of those three teams will be the state semifinalists in football come November.

But for the here and now, everybody's at 7 tonight, aside from The Bone Game at Canyon Springs.

Think of the possibilities of what Eldog could do to Donte Minton, after containing Eric Jordan (that's all you can hope to do) last week.

The call: Eldorado 42, Desert Pines 24.

Valley clinches a playoff spot this week. This year's Cowboys can't even handle veal.

The call: Valley 42, Chaparral 9.

The call: Las Vegas 49, Rancho 7.

The call: Green Valley 38, Basic 7.

The call: Foothill 33, Coronado 14.

The call: Silverado 38, Liberty 17.

The call: Durango 24, Clark 14.

The call: Sierra Vista 40, Bonanza 21.

The call: Bishop Gorman 48, Western 7.

The call: Centennial 34, Mojave 30.

The call: Cimarron-Memorial 24, Cheyenne 21.

The call: Palo Verde 33, Shadow Ridge 21.

The call: Canyon Springs 32, Spring Valley 6.

The call: Faith Lutheran 24, Del Sol 12.

Off the uprights: Virgin Valley at Boulder City, Moapa Valley at Pahrump Valley, White Pine at The Meadows.

Last week: 13-2 (.867).

Season: 77-17 (.819).

1. McQueen (6-0)

Toughest tests -- Reed, Manogue back-to-back

2. Palo Verde (6-0)

Things rolling along just fine in Summerlin

3. Foothill (7-0)

Wary of upset-minded Coronado this week

4. Bishop Manogue (7-0)

Win was Sellers' 300th coaching victory

5. Eldorado (5-2)

Win against Vegas establishes new Northeast power

6. Spanish Springs (5-2)

Fell to Manogue but still in position for playoffs

7. Reed (6-1)

Didn't play as well as they could against Churchill County

8. Sierra Vista (6-1)

One-week stay at ninth due to crowding at the top

9. Hug (6-1)

First team to clinch a playoff spot

10. Cheyenne (5-1)

Nothing's settled in the Northwest until Palo game in two weeks