It’s only October, but most Southern Nevada high school football teams wrap up their seasons Friday.
Under this year’s Superintendent’s Cup format, the postseason has been condensed and will culminate with all three championship games and 12 consolation games.
Private, charter and small schools continue to jockey for playoff seedings, with regular-season play ending next week.
Division I
Centennial at Arbor View
Second-ranked Arbor View (6-3) enters this Division I Superintendent’s Cup championship game as a heavy favorite, but the third-ranked Bulldogs (6-3) are playing their best football of the season and cannot be counted out. The Aggies won the regular-season matchup 55-34 in September.
In that game, quarterback Thaddeus Thatcher passed for 218 yards and three touchdowns, He also ran for 55 yards for three scores. Their balanced offense and opportunistic defense will again be their key.
The Bulldogs upset perennial powerhouse Liberty 27-24 in overtime last week in the semifinals for their fourth consecutive win. If they can ride that momentum with the help of QB Blake Nadler (29 TD passes) and wide receiver Jayden Thomas (99 reception yards per game), they could pull off another upset. The defense was porous in the first meeting between the teams. If the coaching staff can tighten up the backfield to prevent big plays by Arbor View, this game could come down to the final drive.
Division II
Green Valley at Basic
This Division II title game will be decided by Green Valley’s high-scoring offense (45 points per game) and Basic’s all-around consistency. The seventh-ranked Wolves (8-1) could be considered the favorite based on their 21-12 victory over the Gators in September.
QB Andrew Rodriguez, wide receiver Louden Cahill and running back Lynn Saltmarch can also put big points on the board against a Green Valley team that is not known for its defense. If they take care of business while the defense avoids second-half lapses, the Wolves will be in good shape.
The ninth-ranked Gators (7-1) are led by QB Michael Lewis (22 TD passes) and running back Sonny Uranich (99 rushing yards per game), and could use the kind of night they had in their 82-52 win over Silverado three weeks ago. But the defense will hold the key, as there has been a tendency to allow the kind of big plays that Basic is known for with Cahill on the receiving end. Green Valley would not be afraid of a tight score. The Gators have thrived in such scenarios, as they did in their 28-21 win over Palo Verde in the semifinals last week.
Division III
Valley at Sunrise Mountain
Call this Division III championship a toss-up. These teams met in a thriller in September, with the Miners coming out on top 26-24 in overtime. They might again have an advantage in a close contest, as they’ve won three games by two points or less. Led by QB August Krael (18 TD passes), Sunrise Mountain overcame a 15-point deficit in last week’s 16-15 semifinal win over Bonanza. If the defense can prevent Valley from racking up big-chunk yardage, the Miners (8-1) could maintain control throughout.
The Vikings (6-2) trounced Cimarron-Memorial 42-20 in their semifinal last week for their fourth consecutive victory. Though the defense has had some late-game vulnerabilities, dual-threat QB Nah’lage Butler and wide receiver Dashawn Johnson have helped alleviate such lapses with intense offensive firepower. The Vikings have put 35 or more points on the board five times, but any chance of a win will more likely depend on a strong defensive performance.
Regular season
Faith Lutheran at Sloan Canyon
The 4A Pirates head into this game with better numbers, but 5A Faith Lutheran has played a tougher schedule and will enter with the advantage. The Crusaders (5-4) have scored 26 points per game, so they’re unlikely to prefer a wild horse race. They have solid physical depth at the line of scrimmage, and will try to exploit that to allow QB Dominick Folino (1,460 yards, 10 TDs) to lead a balanced attack that leans toward the pass. The defense has allowed 32 points per game, but has the size to wear down Sloan Canyon to pick up their third consecutive win.
Sixth-ranked Sloan Canyon (6-1) scores 29 points per game and gives up 22. With QB Cade Hoshino running an explosive passing offense, the Pirates plan to put up a fight. But the defense will play a more critical role, as it must prevent Faith Lutheran from building an early lead while attempting to stifle the Crusaders’ offensive game plan. The Pirates have lost one game, and that was to Bishop Gorman. Another relatively mistake-free game could keep things that way.
Moapa Valley at Virgin Valley
Known as the Hammer Game, this rivalry is among the most intense in Southern Nevada. Virgin Valley pulled off a stunning fourth-quarter victory last year, but the Pirates won the previous two. Tenth-ranked Moapa Valley (6-2) goes in as the favorite and can secure the top 3A playoff seed with a win. The Pirates are rested coming off a bye week, and QB quarterback Kamden Drosos has the ability to take over games. But upsets are common in this series, and his team must treat this like a title game.
The Bulldogs (2-6) are a running team, led by running back Drew Dixon. He must set the tone from the start to prevent Moapa from taking control early. The Virgin Valley defense has been known to allow some points, an issue that must be avoided in this contest. But the team also has a history of over-performing in the Hammer Game, meaning things could get interesting if they keep the score close heading into the fourth quarter.
Contact Jeff Wollard at jwollard@reviewjournal.com.
