Silverados Jayland Mcglothen (#65) and Julian Debartolo (#10) shut down Shadow Ridge running back Jaquieze Holland (#25) during a high school football game at Silverado Friday, Aug. 27, 2021.
Monday, Nov. 15, 2021 | 1:55 p.m.
Prep Sports Now
State games at Allegiant
High school football in Nevada shifts to the big stage of Allegiant Stadium on Thursday, as state champions in four classifications will crowned. We project the winners in another episode of Prep Sports Now.
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- One game away: Silverado beats Coronado to reach state championship
- Back on top: Gorman wins showdown with Liberty, reclaims label as city’s top team
- Shadow Ridge overcomes slow start to beat Las Vegas, earn spot in title game
- Moapa Valley, Virgin Valley to meet for class 3A football title
- The Sun's high school football section
The experience of reaching the state championship game in Nevada will have a different feel on Thursday.
The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association coordinated with the Raiders to use Allegiant Stadium for four levels of championship games, giving the teenagers a once-in-a-lifetime experience of competing in a NFL stadium.
We predict three of the games, trying to build off a season mark of 139-31.
Bishop Gorman vs. McQueen (12:30 p.m.)
There’s much going against McQueen — two less days to prepare because of the Thursday game, traveling to Las Vegas to compete, and most notably, the opponent. The talent gap between Gorman and McQueen is massive. Let’s be honest: The state championship game was last week, when Gorman defeated Liberty in the Southern Regional championship game. This is nothing more than an exhibition and the experience of playing at Allegiant Stadium. Gorman 62, McQueen 0.
Shadow Ridge vs. Silverado (3:40 p.m.)
This will be the closest game of the day. Silverado convincingly beat Shadow Ridge already this season, will have the best player on the field in Donavyn Pellot and has dominated the opposition all season in the trenches. Yet winning a state championship can’t be this easy, can it? I pegged Shadow Ridge as the state favorite in the preseason because its misdirection rushing attack is complicated to stop. Last week, they passed just twice as Coen Coloma and Jaquieze Holland combined for 369 rushing yards against Las Vegas. “People will say they are one-dimensional,” Silverado coach Andy Ostolaza said. “Well, it’s a hard-to-stop one dimension.” Silverado might not completely stop Shadow Ridge, but the Skyhawks will slow the opposition down enough to cap the magical season — they are undefeated and set the school record for points — with a trophy and ring. Silverado 35, Shadow Ridge 29
Moapa Valley vs. Virgin Valley (7 p.m.)
Rule No. 1 in picking games: Always take the team with the best player. Well, Moapa Valley will have the best two players on the field in Austin Heiselbetz and Gunner Redd. Moapa Valley beat Virgin Valley 46-28 on Oct. 26, and Redd was mostly a nonfactor after being injured. Sure, Virgin Valley was also without some of its top players that night, but Moapa Valley still had its way in the passing game with quarterback Peyton Neilson connecting with backup Dustin Gordon for nearly 200 yards. Moapa Valley 39, Virgin Valley 23
