Friday night roundup: Arbor View, Desert Pines win key games; Gorman keeps rolling

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Published Friday, Sept. 11, 2015 | 7 p.m.

Updated Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015 | 1:47 a.m.

It’s mid-September and only the third week of the high school football season.

Yet when Desert Pines travels tonight to Overton to play defending Division I-A state champion Moapa Valley, you can argue the winner will have an inside track at winning this year’s title.

Desert Pines, ranked No. 3 in the top 10, and No. 7 Moapa Valley are the clear-cut best teams in the classification, and neither is expected to be challenged in the Sunrise League the remainder of the season.

That means the winner tonight would have home field advantage in the playoffs until the state championship game and not be forced to travel up North in the state semifinals.

Of course, playoff seeding isn’t the only reason why this is a can’t-miss affair.

It’s a rematch of last year’s state championship game where Moapa Valley overcame a four-touchdown deficit in the fourth quarter and won in overtime. Another back-and-forth game is expected because both teams return their playmakers — RJ Hubert of Moapa Valley is the classification’s best player, and junior running backIsaiah Morris and quarterback Marckell Grayson of Desert Pines had multiple-touchdown performances in the state championship game.

While some feel Desert Pines might be the favorite, especially since two weeks ago they dominated Division I power Arbor View, the Jaguars could be at a disadvantage in Overton. Moapa Valley officials expect a standing-room-only crowd and that support could give the host Pirates an edge. Also Moapa Valley has never lost to Desert Pines in the three years they’ve been in the same league.

This isn’t the only game of interest on tonight’s schedule.

Bishop Gorman, the defending national champion and the nation’s No. 1-ranked team, is in the Seattle area to take on Bellevue in its quest to repeat. This is the last Gorman road game against a national opponent, meaning the road to defend its title will become significantly easier with the remaining difficult games at home in Las Vegas.

Other games of note include: Arbor View at Green Valley in a battle of top-10 teams, Coronado at Legacy, and Desert Oasis at Basic.

We’ll keep everyone posted as scores become final. Remember to send us game information and photos on Twitter using #sunstandout and #702hsfb.

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Stories from games across the valley:

• Godfrey helps Sierra Vista squash Western for first victory

• Mojave bounces back with convincing win at Pahrump

• Basic slows Desert Oasis to a halt in blowout victory

• Las Vegas High catches fire to smoke Shadow Ridge

• Durango stays competitive but comes up short again

• Silverado successfully executes attack mode against Eldorado

• Rancho wins another, this time downing Boulder City

• Deshawn Williams carries Bonanza to another victory

• Gorman’s defense limits Bellevue to seven points in win

• Chaparral’s Nelson takes over in win against Sunrise Mountain

• Coronado hangs on to defeat Legacy after hot start

• Faith Lutheran uses interceptions, fast-paced offense to down Clark

• Virgin Valley turns tables on Del Sol with potent rushing attack

• Defense shines again in another Canyon Springs win

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21