Desert Oasis, Foothill back in the Sun’s top-10 rankings

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011 | 2:05 a.m.

While the top five teams in the Sun’s top-10 rankings aren’t changing this week, the same can’t be said for the bottom half of the rankings.

Del Sol, which started the year No. 3, is out of the rankings after consecutive defeats, including being shut out 34-0 last week by Liberty. Also out of the rankings is previously undefeated Cheyenne, which was its own worst enemy last week in a lopsided loss to Palo Verde.

Desert Oasis, which took second in the Southwest Division last year behind power Bishop Gorman, enters the rankings at No. 10. If the Diamondbacks can get past Durango on Thursday, they likely coast to another second-place finish in the Southwest behind Gorman.

Also back in the rankings in Foothill, which has a 4-1 record but should be undefeated after falling late two weeks ago to Green Valley.

Here is the rest of the rankings:

1. Bishop Gorman (6-1): Gorman 2-1 record this fall against nationally ranked opponents is downright impressive. Up next; Thursday at Pahrump Valley.

2. Palo Verde (6-0): Palo Verde is one of two undefeated teams in the Las Vegas Valley and is impossible to beat in Northwest League play where it has one loss since 2007. Up next: Thursday at Shadow Ridge.

3. Las Vegas (5-0): It wasn’t pretty in the second half, but Las Vegas remained undefeated last week by defeating Valley. Up next: Thursday vs. Chaparral.

4. Arbor View (5-1): Arbor View rushed for more than 500 yards last week against Shadow Ridge. Up next Thursday vs. Cheyenne.

5. Liberty (4-1): Niko Kapeli has rushed for more than 200 yards in consecutive games, leading the Patriots to a lopsided victory last week against Del Sol. Up next: Thursday at Basic.

6. Moapa Valley (5-1): Moapa Valley took down another 4A classification opponent last week by beating Faith Lutheran. Up next: Thursday at Legacy.

7. Green Valley (4-1): Aaron Love has carried Green Valley to victories in its last four games, and should be in serious consideration for the Sunrise Region’s Player of the Year. Up next: Thursday at Virgin Valley.

8. Foothill (4-1): Foothill is 2-1 against teams in this week’s top 10, posting victories against Canyon Springs and Desert Oasis, and losing in the final seconds against Green Valley. Up next: Thursday at Del Sol.

9. Canyon Springs (3-2): Canyon Springs has scored 110 points the last two weeks. Up next: Thursday at Rancho.

10. Desert Oasis (3-2): After losing its first two games, the Diamondbacks have won three straight and are playing like a team in the driver’s seat to host a home playoff game. Up next: Thursday at Durango.