5 high school football games to watch this week
Here’s a look at some of Friday’s most interesting high school football games.
Servite (Calif.) (2-2) at Bishop Gorman (4-0) — There was a time when the Servite game might have been the marquee matchup on Gorman’s schedule.
Those days have passed. The Gaels needed a field goal to beat Servite 31-28 in 2011, but the last three meetings haven’t been close as Gorman has gone from the state’s top team to the top team in the country.
The Friars might be better than their 2-2 record, as the losses have come to strong programs in Bishop Amat (Calif.) and De La Salle (Calif.).
Gorman quarterback Tate Martell is coming off an off game where he was just 9-for-24 passing and threw two interceptions, matching his total for the 2014 season. But even if he’s not at his best again, it’s hard to imagine the Friars pulling the upset.
Basic (3-0) at Arbor View (3-1) — The third-ranked Wolves face their toughest test as they travel to take on the No. 6 Aggies.
Basic’s last two opponents — Desert Oasis and Bonanza — probably won’t contend for a league title this season. But the teams are a combined 5-3, and the Wolves dismantled both, outscoring them 110-0 and allowing a total of 181 yards in the two games.
Arbor View has bounced back since a 50-14 drubbing by Desert Pines in the season opener. The Aggies have outscored opponents 139-61 since that game, and running back Curtis Jones has emerged as one of the area’s top big-play threats, with 595 yards and six TDs and an average of 9.4 yards per carry.
Las Vegas (2-1) at Rancho (2-2) — The state’s oldest standing rivalry isn’t quite what it used to be, but it usually draws one of the largest crowds of the year.
Since 1957 the schools have been competing for “Sir Herkimer’s Bone,” a bronzed cow bone that has served as the trophy for the winner.
The Wildcats have dominated in recent years, winning the last six meetings by a combined score of 332-37.
The last time the Rams actually challenged Las Vegas was 2008, when the Wildcats won 63-42.
Rancho has shown huge improvements this season, especially on defense, where the Rams have allowed a total of 47 points.
Centennial (3-1) at Canyon Springs (2-1) — It’ll be interesting to see how these two teams respond after losses last week.
The fifth-ranked Bulldogs are coming off a 27-7 loss to second-ranked Liberty last week. Centennial quarterback Jamaal Evans never got going against the Patriots, and star running back Rhamondre Stevenson finished the game on the bench with ice on his foot.
If those two don’t get going, the Centennial offense might sputter.
Canyon Springs dropped a 30-13 decision to Coronado, and first-year coach Keith Jones will be tested as he tries to motivate his troops.
Faith Lutheran (3-1, 2-0 Sunset League ) at Mojave (3-1, 2-0) — While some Division I schools won’t hit league play until Oct. 9, the I-A schools are well under way, and the winner of this matchup will have the inside track in the Sunset League.
Faith Lutheran has looked good since losing its opener to Yuma Catholic (Ariz.), and the Crusaders feature arguably the top offensive weapon in the league in junior running back Christian Marshall.
Marshall has rushed for a league-best 511 yards and six TDs this season, and also has 178 receiving yards and two scores.
Mojave counters with a strong defense keyed by linebacker Kaleb Friedman, who is tops in the Sunset with 36 tackles. If you take out the 41-6 loss to fourth-seeded Desert Pines, Mojave has outscored opponents 73-13.
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