High school football top 10: Best teams will be determined on the field in upcoming weeks

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014 | 2 a.m.

We’ve come to the point in the high school football season where rankings won’t be necessary.

Players will determine the best team on the field, starting Thursday with two league championship games in the Sunset Region, and next week in the Division I playoffs.

No. 3 Centennial hosts No. 2 Arbor View in a battle of undefeated teams for the Northwest League title, and No. 6 Palo Verde will take on visiting Bishop Gorman for the Southwest League title. Those four teams will have played in five consecutive Sunset Regional semifinals, and will likely be semifinalists again this season.

There’s more parity in the Sunrise Region.

In the Northeast League, Las Vegas hosts Liberty looking to win the league crown outright. A Liberty victory, though, would likely force a three-way tie. No. 4 Green Valley is in a similar situation — if it beats Foothill, the Gators win the Southeast League. A loss, though, would force a three-way tie.

Here’s the last top-10 rankings of the year. Enjoy. Debate.

1. Bishop Gorman (9-0): Does it get any better than Gorman-Palo Verde? Up next: Thursday at Palo Verde.

2. Arbor View (8-0): To answer the previous question, yes. At least this year. Arbor View’s game Thursday at Centennial has all the makings of a classic. It’s a battle of two undefeated teams with a league title on the line. Up next: Thursday at Centennial

3. Centennial (8-0): Aside from struggling against Foothill, Centennial hasn’t been challenged this season. That will surely change Thursday against Arbor View Up next: Thursday vs. Arbor View

4. Green Valley (7-1): Green Valley can finish undefeated in the Southeast League by beating Foothill Thursday Up next: Thursday vs. Foothill

5. Liberty (7-2): Liberty could force a three-way tie in the Northeast League if it beats Las Vegas on Thursday. Up next: Thursday at Las Vegas

6. Palo Verde (6-2): If anyone can beat Gorman it is Palo Verde, right? At least that was the case in 2008, the last time five-time defending state champion Gorman lost to a Nevada opponent. Up next: Thursday vs. Bishop Gorman

7. Canyon Springs(5-3): Canyon Springs, who beat four-time defending Sunrise champion Liberty last month, will be a tough out when the playoffs start next week. Up next: Thursday vs. Silverado

8. Moapa Valley (9-0): Moapa Valley beat Chaparral last week to finish the regular season undefeated for the second straight year. Up next: Thursday vs. Spring Valley in Division I-A playoffs

9. Coronado (5-3): Coronado appears locked into the No. 2 seed in the Southeast League. And if LIberty is upset by Las Vegas, the Cougars and Patriots would play next week in the Sunrise Regional quarterfinals. Liberty beat Coronado by one point earlier this year in one of the best games of the year. Up next: Thursday vs. Basic

10. Desert PInes (8-1) : Desert Pines, after more than a month of not being challenged, should receive a stiff test in the playoff opener against Cheyenne Up next: Thursday vs. Cheyenne in Division I-A playoffs

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21