Friday night roundup: Win and advance; lose and turn in your pads

By Ray Brewer (contact), Paul Delos Santos

Published Friday, Nov. 8, 2013 | 7 p.m.

Updated Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013 | 1:35 a.m.

All six of the high school football playoff games tonight in Southern Nevada should be closely contested.

It’s that time of the season — one team will celebrate its win and start looking ahead to the next playoff round; the players on the other team will turn in their gear.

With no clear-cut favorite in the eight-team Sunrise Regional playoffs, you can easily argue tonight’s quarterfinal round will feature at least one upset of a lower-seeded team pulling off a shocker.

Take the Foothill Falcons, for instance.

They are the No. 4 seed from the Southeast League, playing at Northeast League champion Green Valley with hopes of duplicating their 2009 playoff magic. That’s when the Falcons knocked off No. 1 seed Las Vegas in the quarterfinals as the lowest-seeded team.

Coronado and Las Vegas High, each No. 3 seeds, have the best chance of advancing against higher-seeded teams. Coronado plays at Canyon Springs in a rematch of a September game won in overtime by Canyon Springs. Las Vegas plays at Basic, which it beat in September by more than 20 points.

Liberty is the three-time defending Sunrise champions and plays Silverado in the quarterfinals. Liberty started its title run last year by beating Silverado in the quarterfinals.

In the Division I-A, the winner of tonight’s second round games advance to next week’s state semifinals. Faith Lutheran puts its nine-game winning streak on the line against visiting Desert Pines; perennial power Moapa Valley of Overton is playing for another berth at state against nearby rival Virgin Valley of Mesquite.

The Division I Sunset Region is still one week away from starting its postseason, finishing up the regular season tonight with one of the most anticipated games of the season. Palo Verde visits Arbor View in a matchup of rivals with identical 7-1 records in the Northwest League championship game.

Last year, Arbor View beat Palo Verde for the first time in its eight-year existence to win the Northwest to fuel the rivalry’s fire. It’s one of those can’t-miss game where the line of fans to enter the stadium won’t die down until the end of the first quarter.

Also in the Sunset Region, four-time defending state champion Bishop Gorman is playing for its seventh straight unbeaten season in Southwest League games.

We’ll keep you posted all night as the scores become final. Remember to send us your fan photos and game information on Twitter @lasvegassun using the hashtap #sunstandout.

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Stories about high school football games around the valley:

• Northwest league title belongs to Palo Verde this year after win at Arbor View

• Swenson’s 7 touchdown passes gives Las Vegas playoff win aganst Basic

• Liberty one step closer to another Sunrise title

• Faith Lutheran outlast Desert Pines to reach Division I-A state semifinals

• Moapa Valley survives scare against Virgin Valley, books another trip to state semis

• Green Valley scored 28 unanswered points to close game, eliminate Foothill

• Canyon Springs wins to set up yet another playoff date with Liberty

• Shadow Ridge secures first winning season since 2010

• Worthington’s big run caps off Centennial rally against Legacy

• Gorman completes 7th straight undefeated Southwest League season

• Special teams touchdowns from Maurice Bennett help Cimarron grab playoff spot