Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

High School Football Picks: Week 1

The first week of high school football season always play a large role in determining the outcome of the season-long picks competition between the Sun’s Ray Brewer and Case Keefer.

With a slate full out of state games and evenly matched nonleague games, predictions don’t come as easily as later in the season. Brewer and Keefer disagree on five games this weekend.

Find out which ones below and tell us your own picks in the comments.

The week of August 26

Brewer's Picks
Last Season
162-32 (.835)

Brewer vs. Keefer

Las Vegas Sun reporters Ray Brewer and
Case Keefer attempt to pick
the winning team from prep contests
across the Las Vegas area.

Keefer's Picks
Last Season
163-31 (.840)

Gorman’s defense, running game just enough for historic win.
Bishop Gorman 24, Cedar Hills 20

Bishop Gorman
at
Cedar Hills (Texas)

Gorman could be the best team in the nation, and still lose to a Texas power on the road.
Cedar Hills 24, Bishop Gorman 21

Liberty too athletic at skill positions for Aggies.
Liberty 42, Arbor View 20

I’ll usually take the great passing game over the great running game.
Liberty 34, Arbor View 26

Desert Pines should handle Centennial like it did Arbor View last season.
Desert Pines 31, Centennial 16

Centennial’s Jamaal Evans is the player of the game, but a late score from Desert Pines’ Isaiah Morris dooms his heroic efforts.
Desert Pines 38, Centennial 34

Tough opening-night test for the Crusaders, whose offense needs a month to develop.
St. Pius X 33, Faith Lutheran 13

St. Pius X (Texas)
at
Faith Lutheran

Slow starts are normal for Faith Lutheran.
St. Pius X 28, Faith Lutheran 16

Virgin Valley is improved from last season, just not enough to beat nearby Utah school.
Cedar City 39, Virgin Valley 19

Cedar Hills (Utah)
at
Virgin Valley

Seems like Nevada schools never beat Utah schools.
Cedar City 20, Virgin Valley 6

Sunrise Mountain is one of the 3A classification’s top teams.
Sunrise Mountain 47, Boulder City 8

Look out for Sunrise Mountain running back Claude Moore in this game.
Sunrise Mountain 36, Boulder City 16

If Iyen Medlock gets 25 touches, the Vikings should break its losing streak.
Valley 16, Durango 12

Durango defense is up to the challenge.
Durango 20, Valley 16

Won’t pick against my Cowboys in a coin-flip game.
Chaparral 23, Bonanza 20

Cowboys are capable of rebuilding quickly.
Chaparral 21, Bonanza 20

Eldorado made progress in the offseason. Its effort should net a first-game win.
Eldorado 29, Pahrump Valley 22

I take the Trojans at home when in doubt.
Pahrump Valley 27, Eldorado 20

Coronado picks up where it left off last season against Canyon Springs.
Coronado 27, Canyon Springs 12

Coronado has too much on defense for Canyon Springs.
Coronado 24, Canyon Springs 9

Palo Verde’s defense will give Las Vegas fits.
Palo Verde 20, Las Vegas 15

Not many teams are as tough as Las Vegas.
Las Vegas 24, Palo Verde 16

Moapa Valley returns just a few starters, but I’m not ready to pick against the 3A power.
Moapa Valley 14, Sierra Vista 13

Here’s an under the radar pick for one of the best games of the week.
Moapa Valley 31, Sierra Vista 27

Green Valley will finish as one of the area’s top five teams.
Green Valley 29, Desert Oasis 6

Gators are back to being a perennial threat at this point.
Green Valley 38, Desert Oasis 13

Del Sol will rush for more than 200 yards.
Del Sol 31, Western 13

Winnable first game for the Dragons.
Del Sol 45, Western 20

It’s not pretty, but Silverado has just enough to get past Mojave.
Silverado 19, Mojave 16

Skyhawks win more impressively than Brewer expects.
Silverado 35, Mojave 16

Foothill might surprise some teams this season. Watch out.
Foothill 33, Cheyenne 13

Kealli Maruyama is the captain of the All-Keefer team.
Foothill 40, Cheyenne 16

Breaking in many new starters, Basic struggles in Utah.
Taylorsville 41, Basic 22

Basic
at
Taylorsville (Utah)

Basic is not outmatched here.
Basic 30, Taylorsville 28

Taylorsville completes the Utah sweep of Southern Nevada schools.
Mountain Crest 43, Spring Valley 13

Spring Valley
at
Taylorsville (Utah)

Going to be a long trip home for the Grizzlies.
Mountain Crest 36, Spring Valley 16

For more coverage, check out our high school football section.

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