Patterson's Prep football picks -- Week 8

Cheyenne gets nod in battle against Cimarron-Memorial

WEEK EIGHT

CIMARRON-MEMORIAL (5-2, 4-1) at CHEYENNE (7-0, 4-0), 7 p.m.

The Scoop: The game everyone's been waiting for is finally here. The Spartans were the area's early favorites, before a lopsided loss to California's University and a stunning upset at the hands of Gorman knocked them down a couple of notches. The Desert Shields, on the other hand, have been dominant all season, and look like a team on a serious mission. All signs point to a Cheyenne win, but in this fierce rivalry, the unexpected usually happens. Still, it's awfully hard to pick against one of the state's only two undefeated clubs, especially when it's home. The Pick: Cheyenne 28, Cimarron 24

VALLEY (1-6, 1-4)) at SILVERADO (0-7, 0-5), 7 p.m.

The Scoop: A late-season game with nothing but pride at stake. The Vikings' only win came against Rancho two weeks ago, while the Skyhawks most recent loss came at the hands of those same Rams last Friday. Look for Valley to win a close one on the road. The Pick: Valley 14, Silverado 10

LAS VEGAS (4-3, 3-2) at BASIC (3-4, 2-3), 7 p.m.

The Scoop: The Wolves have been token participants in the Sunrise playoff race all season, and here's their chance to make a serious statement. Win, and they're in the No. 4 slot with only a game against Rancho to go. Lose, and they're out of the running entirely. After falling to Eldorado by two last week, though, the Wildcats aren't likely to let this one slip away. The Pick: Las Vegas 24, Basic 18

ELDORADO (5-2, 4-1) at RANCHO (1-6, 1-4), 7 p.m.

The Scoop: The Rams finally got into the victory column last week, but beating Eldorado is a far cry from defeating winless Silverado. The Sundevils have been one of the area's most consistent teams all season, losing only a two-point affair to Green Valley in conference play. They'll use this one to fine-tune things for the playoffs. The Pick: Eldorado 32, Rancho 12

CHAPARRAL (4-3, 4-1) at GREEN VALLEY (6-1, 5-0), 7 p.m.

The Scoop: A battle of division leaders, this one has the potential to shake things up in the Sunrise. A Chaparral win would likely force a three-way tie for first, assuming Eldorado takes care of business. A Green Valley victory clinches the top spot for the Gators, who have been taken to the limit by Las Vegas and Eldorado this year. Expect the Cowboys to keep things close for a half, with the Gators gutting it out late as they always seem to. The Pick: Green Valley 23, Chaparral 20

BONANZA (1-6, 0-4) at BISHOP GORMAN (3-4, 1-3), 7 p.m.

The Scoop: Since their shocking win over Cimarron three weeks ago, the Gaels have fallen on hard times, losing to Mojave and getting shut out by Western. Beating the Bengals should be no tall order for Gorman, but the way the Gaels have played recently, anything is possible. And after going winless in conference last year, it's hard to believe Bonanza could repeat the performance in '98. A true pick 'em. The Pick: Gorman 19, Bonanza 12

DURANGO (4-3, 2-2) at WESTERN (5-2, 3-1), 7 p.m.

The Scoop: If the season-ending injury to star running back Marcus Lewis affected the Warriors' morale, they sure didn't show it in last week's easy win over Gorman. Western's running game continued to churn out yards, with Thomas Evans picking up most of the slack. He'll need to do it again for his club to win this game and solidify its playoff position. The Trailblazers have yet to beat a playoff-bound team, although they've had no trouble whatsoever against lesser opponents. The Pick: Western 26, Durango 24

CLARK (2-5, 1-4) at MOJAVE (4-3), 7 p.m.

The Scoop: After downing Gorman two weeks ago, the first-year Rattlers regressed a bit last week, falling to fellow newcomer Palo Verde on a late field goal. Defeating Clark isn't entirely out of the question, but the Cowboys are probably too athletic for Mojave to handle. The Pick: Clark 21, Mojave 10

WHITE PINE at BOULDER CITY (2-4, 0-1), 7 p.m.

The Scoop: Essentially a must-win for the Eagles, who dropped their conference opener to Virgin Valley last week. A loss makes the playoffs a long shot for Boulder City, so assume the hosts will play with a sense of urgency. Last year, the Bobcats won this meeting 49-21, but Boulder City should get a lift from the return of tailback Justin Trone. The Pick: White Pine 31, Boulder City 26

SEASON TO DATE -- Overall: 53-16 (.768); Last week: 7-2.

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