Friday night roundup: Foothill, Coronado face off in key Southeast League game

By Ray Brewer (contact), Paul Delos Santos

Published Friday, Oct. 18, 2013 | 7 p.m.

Updated Friday, Oct. 18, 2013 | 11:50 p.m.

The Coronado and Foothill high football teams have a golden opportunity tonight to take a significant step toward hosting a playoff game next month.

Liberty High which is ranked No. 2 in the Sun’s rankings, hasn’t lost a Southeast League game in three years and is the unquestioned favorite to win the league title again this year.

With the Southeast sending four teams in the Sunrise Regional, that means only one team — in addition to Liberty — can earn a first-round playoff game. That one team will likely either by Foothill or Coronado. Game on.

Foothill (4-2 overall, 2-0 Southeast) enters with much momentum from beating Basic last week on a last-minute field goal and has one of the area’s top quarterbacks in senior Drew Doxtator. They are built for a long playoff run — well, only if they can win tonight, which would give the Falcons a significant edge in the race for the No. 2 seed.

Coronado, which played in last year’s state semifinals, is also eyeing the No. 2 seed. They lost virtually all key contributors from last season, but have still given opponents fits.

They lost to undefeated Canyon Springs in overtime, beat Northeast League favorite Green Valley and only trailed Liberty by one point entering the fourth quarter before losing by more than 20.

The Cougars are loaded with talented underclassman and not expected to be a threat until next fall. That could change with one victory tonight. The win, you see, would give the Cougars a legitimate chance at that coveted home playoff game.

It’s not the lone game of significance tonight.

Moapa Valley of Overton will make the quick trip on the I-15 to Mesquite to face Virgin Valley in the annual Hammer Game. The teams have just one loss combined and some feel this game could be one of the best in rivalry series history.

If Moapa Valley wins, it would set up a showdown with Desert Pines, another undefeated team, next week for the Division 1-A Sunrise League title.

Other games of note in the Division I include: Silverado at Las Vegas in a crucial game for seeding in the Northeast; and two games of significance in the Southwest League — Legacy, fresh off hanging with state power Bishop Gorman last week, takes on Bonanza; Desert Oasis tangles with Centennial.

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

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Stories about other high school football games around the valley:

• Liberty scores early and often in blowout victory over Eldorado

• Defense steps up in critical moment to keep Desert Pines undefeated

• Green Valley handles Rancho, 74-6

• Puia scores 4 touchdowns to give Shadow Ridge victory over Sierra Vista

• Palo Verde’s Finn has three touchdowns on three carries, helps Panthers beat Spring Valley

• Worthington shines on the ground as Centennial defeats Desert Oasis

• Boulder City racks up rushing yards in convincing victory over Sunrise Mountain

• Canyon Springs survives poor first half, cruises past Valley

• Faith Lutheran claims Division I-A Sunset title with victory over Cheyenne

• Pahrump Valley shuts out Western

• Special night for Arbor View defense and its coordinator

• The hammer stays with Moapa Valley once again

• Legacy shuts out Bonanza

• Jon Scoffield powers Basic past Del Sol

• Las Vegas shows no ill effects of last week’s battle in win over Silverado

• Behind a number of big performances, Gorman smashes Cimarron