Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Prep football:

Perennial powers Gorman, Palo Verde still occupy top spots in rankings

Prep Football Teams 2010

Sam Morris

Bishop Gorman High School football players Bryson Mook, Ronnie Stanley and Ron Scoggins.

Prep Sports Now

Gorman, Palo Verde flex muscles; we need a 3A league

Las Vegas Sun reporters Case Keefer and Ray Brewer talk about finding more competitive games for several struggling programs in the 4A classification — like in the 3A. Oh, Gorman and Palo are still the cream of the crop.

Cheyenne and Desert Oasis highs last week were supposed to give the state's best football teams a competitive game. Instead, they lost by a combined 105-6.

Yes, Bishop Gorman High and Palo Verde are that much better than the rest of the teams in their league.

Palo Verde rushed for 288 yards, scored 42 first-half points and recorded its second shutout of the year in a 49-0 victory against Cheyenne. Palo Verde (6-0) has surrendered just 19 points in four leagues games.

Gorman was victorious 56-6 against a Desert Oasis team that likely still will finish second (behind Gorman) in the Southwest Division. The defending state champion Gaels have outscored three league opponents 167-6.

Here is the rest of the rankings, which are complied weekly by the Sun's Ray Brewer.

1.Bishop Gorman (4-2) — Gorman quarterback Anu Solomon and receiver Ryan Smith connected for two touchdowns and more than 100 yards last week against Desert Oasis. Not bad for a pair of sophomores. Up next: 7 p.m. Friday at Western.

2. Palo Verde (6-0) — Palo Verde's blowout victory against Cheyenne last week confirms the Panthers are one of the state's elite. Up next: 7 p.m. Friday against Shadow Ridge.

3. Las Vegas (5-1) — The Las Vegas High reserves will get plenty of game action again this week. Up next: 7 p.m. Friday against Sunrise Mountain.

Sam Tai

Liberty High defensive end Sam Tai talks about the 2010 high school football season.

4 Liberty (4-1)Liberty welcomed defensive end Sam Tai back to the lineup last week. He made an immediate impact. Just ask Basic quarterback Vince Carducci. Up next: 7 p.m. Friday at Green Valley.

5. Foothill (6-0) — A lopsided victory against Del Sol last week showed the Falcons will be a force in the Southeast. They can't afford to slip up in the Victory Bell game against Silverado. Up next: 7 p.m. Friday at Silverado.

6. Arbor View (6-0) — The Aggies will be tested Friday against a Cheyenne team they have yet to beat in five attempts. Up next: 7 p.m. Friday at Cheyenne.

7. Durango (5-1) — The Trailblazers played one of their best halves of the season Friday against Spring Valley. Up next: 7 p.m. Friday against Sierra Vista.

8. Canyon Springs (3-2)Canyon Springs has won three straight games after opening the season with consecutive defeats. When you consider Canyon Springs plays several underclassmen, its easy to see why coach Hunkie Cooper is optimistic about the future of his program — this year and in years to come. Up next: 7 p.m. Friday at Eldorado.

9. Centennial (4-2) — While Centennial's consecutive wins in the tough Northwest Division land the Bulldogs in the rankings, it's their two defeats that could be considered the most impressive. They surrendered only seven first-half points Sept. 16 and stayed competitive against Palo Verde in a 21-0 loss. Also, they arguably gift-wrapped a victory for Arbor View on Sept. 11 in a 31-18 loss. Both Arbor View and Palo Verde are undefeated. Up next: 7 p.m. Friday at Cimarron-Memorial.

10. Basic (4-2) — Don't let Basic's 42-7 loss to Liberty fool you. The game was closer than the final score indicates. Up next: 7 p.m. Friday at Legacy.

OUT Cheyenne (2-2) and Desert Oasis (4-2) — The team's lost by a combined 105-6 last week.

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