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Moapa Valley High School football players Jacob Rebman, Sean McConnell and Dakota Watters.
Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011 | 3:59 p.m.
The Sun's Ray Brewer's weekly high school football round-up
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Las Vegas Sun sports editor Ray Brewer recaps last week's high school football games and looks ahead to what's on the schedule for this week for Sports Night on KSNV.
Prep Sports Now
Gorman's national contest precedes Saturday slate
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Las Vegas Sun sports reporters Case Keefer and Ray Brewer go across the valley and break down the upcoming week of high school. They give their picks on every game and spend extra time debating Del Sol vs. Liberty and Servite (Calif.) vs. Bishop Gorman.
Related coverage
The Moapa Valley High football team showed last Friday what several supporters of the Overton school have long argued: the Pirates are one of the state’s best.
Moapa Valley rallied from a 10-point first-quarter deficit against perennial 4A classification power Del Sol for a 49-40 victory — a signature win of sorts to prove they belong to be mentioned with the state’s best. Fittingly, the 3A classification school debuts this week in the Sun’s top-10 rankings.
Moapa Valley also has victories against 4A schools Chaparral and Sunrise Mountain by a combined 101-6.
While wins against struggling Chaparral and Sunrise Mountain aren’t overly impressive, a victory against Del Sol speaks volumes. Del Sol in 2009 was the state runner-up and from 2006 to 2009 played in the Sunrise Regional title game.
Yes, Moapa Valley is that good — and no longer just a 3A classification power. They are have earned the respect against all Nevada teams, regardless of enrollment size.
1. Bishop Gorman (5-1): Gorman will be back in the national spotlight Friday when it hosts Servite High of Anaheim, Calif. The Gaels have outscored their last four opponents 244-13 in proving they are the class of Southern Nevada high school football. Up next: Friday vs. Servite.
2 Palo Verde (5-0): Palo Verde’s defense has been solid all season, giving up just 33 points in five games. Up next: Saturday at Cheyenne.
3. Las Vegas High (4-0): Don’t be surprised if the Wildcats are undefeated entering the playoff. Up next: Saturday at Valley.
4. Arbor View (4-1): Arbor View is one of the area’s elite teams for a second straight season. Up next: Saturday at Shadow Ridge.
5. Liberty (3-1): The defending Southeast Division champion Patriots have a crucial game this week against Del Sol in their title defense. Up next: Saturday vs. Del Sol.
6. Cheyenne (4-0): The revival of the Cheyenne program is one of the best stories this season. Up next: Saturday vs. Palo Verde.
7. Moapa Valley (4-1): It’s rare to have a 3A classification team in the rankings, but the Pirates are proving they can play with the state’s best. Up next: Saturday vs. Faith Lutheran.
8. Del Sol (3-1): Del Sol drops five spots in the rankings after giving up 49 points to Moapa Valley. Simply inexcusable. Up next: Saturday at Liberty.
9. Canyon Springs (2-2): Playing Chaparral and Sunrise Mountain in consecutive weeks would give any team confidence. Up next: Saturday at Sunrise Mountain.
10. Green Valley (3-1): Green Valley’s last-second victory against Foothill puts the Gators in the rankings. Up next: Saturday vs. Coronado.
Still can't believe you have Canyon ahead of GV, CM, Desert Oasis....but at least when Cheyenne gets blown out by Palo it'll move Moapa up to sixth
Thanks for the love, its been long over due. Wish we could have been playing the "big boys" when I was in school and shown the state Moapa's been good for years, haha call me Uncle Rico I guess. This years been exciting since I have a little brother on the team. Thanks for the coverage again.
Tuasdad: Maybe my impression of Canyon is higher than some, but I think they would easily beat GV. Maybe we'll get that game in the playoffs! Trust me, Canyon is better than you think. These kids are just super young. Thanks for the feedback
MoapaAlum, I gotta agree. I've said it before. It's hilarious to hear the schools in the new 4A Division 2 league complain about having to play the 3A schools. Even though we're rivals, you know that Moapa and Virgin Valley won't be pushovers, not now, and maybe not ever. Boulder...well that's a different story ;).
Agreed that we dissagree. Like i've said before I think Canyon has the potential... and coach made smart move playing all these underclassmen. It'll pay off next season and the one after that when they're contending for Top 5 in town...but for now the talent, potential and athleticism is not comparable to the product that they produce on the field. Del Sol, on paper, has the athletes and speed that would make you think Moapa (on paper) couldn't touch them. But the product on the field is different.
If we had potential top ten rankings then Canyon would be #4... but from what i've seen they're too raw, undisciplined and sloppy tackling and routes to be in top ten right now. They'll get there, next year. But i do look forward to potential playoff match ups.
Anyway i think it's good that we all don't agree on top ten and weekly picks otherwise there would be nothing to talk about except Gorman hating and defending lol
I agree with most of the Top 10. However, I agree with Tuasdad that Canyon Springs shouldn't be there. I think Cimarron and Foothill are both better then Canyon. If Del Sol loses again to Liberty then they would have to be out of the Top 10 next week right?
Yeah I was at the Del Sol vs Moapa game, and Del Sol had lots of good athletes with speed but weren't utilized well and the coaching couldn't make adjustments to stop Moapa. Moapa has great coaching and makes the right adjustments.
AbsurdQuantities, Boulder has been keeping their ground with 4A schools, just had mistakes in their 4th quarters. I think it'll still be good games for 3A this year and in the 4A Division 2 next year. Boulder has a LOT of young guys on their team, and most of them start also. We'll see how it goes this week for them when they play Virgin Valley. I got my money on BC.
There are Three, 3A teams in the MaxPreps top 10 for Nevada. First time I remember seeing that.
Lowry, Moapa Valley, and Truckee.
Going to be some good football next month.
Ray I was at the GV foothill game, GV is up and coming team, they would throw 35 on canyon just like did to foothill. There going to be suprise team in the conferance.
Vegasboy10, I think Boulder fans think that same thing about every year but can never get past Moapa. BC has never been able to match the physicality of Moapa.
Boulder has always been a bigger soccer school than it was a football school. Not sure why, but it's how it is. I'm never quite sure how Virgin Valley is decent, but we are. I was wondering something though, with the new 4A Division II section, I also heard the North is going to change their 3A to 4A Division II, does that mean there will be a revived North/South state game?