Las Vegas High still No. 3 in Sun’s rankings, ready for Bone Game rivalry with Rancho

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011 | 2:05 a.m.

The third-ranked team in the Sun’s top-10 rankings will be involved in one of the most anticipated games this week.

It’s rivalry week on the local high school gridiron, starting Thursday night when No. 3 Las Vegas High attempts to extend its winning streak against Rancho in the annual Bone Game to 16 straight seasons.

But that is not the only game of interest.

Chaparral travels to Eldorado for the annual Cleat Game, No. 6 Foothill is at Basic in the Battle for Boulder Highway, and Spring Valley and Bonanza play in the Banner Game — a rivalry that typically gets little publicity, but is important to the players at both schools.

Rivalry games give teams having a down season — Chaparral and Eldorado, for instance — something to play for in the final weeks. The players, after all, don’t have to be reminded that you only get to play in these meaningful games a few times during your high school career.

Feel free to let us know which rivalry game you like the best.

Here are the rest of the weekly rankings:

1. Bishop Gorman (8-1): Give Gorman officials credit for scheduling the game with Arbor View this week. Now, the Gaels will get valuable reps in defending the double-wing offense in preparation for likely playing Palo Verde and Arbor View in next month’s playoffs. Up next: Friday vs Arbor View.

2. Palo Verde (8-0): Palo Verde will play on a Friday night for the first time since Sept. 23 when it hosts Faith Lutheran this week. Up next: Friday vs. Faith Lutheran.

3. Las Vegas High (7-0): Las Vegas’ win streak of 15 in the Bone Game against Rancho is making the rivalry irrelevant. That’s a shame. Up next: Thursday in the Bone Game vs. Rancho.

4. Arbor View (7-1): To be the best, you have to beat the best. Arbor View will get that chance Friday night, agreeing to play two-time defending state champion Bishop Gorman this week after Gorman’s game with Western was canceled. Arbor View, unlike most of the local teams that play Gorman, cherishes the opportunity to pull off the upset. Up next: Friday at Bishop Gorman.

5. Liberty (6-1): Liberty hasn’t lost a Southeast Division game since 2009. Not a bad little streak, Patriots. Up next: Friday at Coronado.

6. Foothill (6-1): Foothill last week took care of Silverado in the Victory Bell game. But will the good play continue in Foothill’s most-significant rivalry game this week. Up next: Friday in the Battle for Boulder Highway at Basic.

7. Canyon Springs (5-2): The Pioneers have won five straight games and have only surrendered 19 points the last four weeks. Up next: Friday at Valley.

8. Desert Oasis (5-2): Fourth-year Desert Oasis has already wrapped up the No. 2 seed in the Southwest. The Diamondbacks’ are in a good position to win the program’s first play game. Up next: Friday at Pahrump Valley.

9. Moapa Valley (6-2): Moapa Valley showed again last week that it is the class of the 3A by blanking rival Virgin Valley. Up next: Friday vs. Silverado.

10. Green Valley (5-2): Green Valley lost to Southeast leader Liberty last week. But, then again, everyone is defeated by Liberty. Up next: Friday at Del Sol.