Friday night roundup: Centennial continues hot start; Del Sol ousted

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Published Friday, Sept. 7, 2012 | 6:30 p.m.

Updated Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012 | 1:44 a.m.

While several high school football teams across the nation are entering their third week of games tonight, most of the schools in the Las Vegas area’s Sunrise Region will be playing their season openers.

With Nevada’s large-school classification split into three regions — Sunrise and Sunset in Las Vegas, and Northern in the Reno area — one region each year starts a week behind the other two. Then, during the playoffs, the championship game of the region that started late will also serve as the state semifinals. The region champs — this year, coming from the Sunset and Northern regions — would meet in the other semifinal.

However, we are still weeks away from the playoffs.

And, for the Del Sol High program, reaching the postseason would be sweet redemption after missing the playoffs last year for just the second time since opening in 2004. But Del Sol got off to a tough start to the season, losing 27-7 at home to Cimarron-Memorial..

One of the more interesting games of the week pits Centennial at host Durango in a showdown of two teams in the Sun’s top-10 rankings. Durango is led by Utah-committed running back Marcus Williams, and Centennial is coming of an emotional 24-20 victory last week against rival Palo Verde. Now a final: Centennial defeated Durango 31-0.

Speaking of Palo Verde, the perennial power Panthers enter tonight’s game against visiting Bonanza still looking for its first win. When was the last time Palo Verde started the season 0-3? Never since the school opened in 1996.

Other games of significance include Del Sol High traveling to Desert Oasis to open the season. It’s the varsity debut of sophomore quarterback Trevor Swenson, who at 6-foot-2, 180-pounds is expected to make big plays. Also,Moapa Valley looks to continue its dominance of the Division I-A when it plays host Faith Lutheran.

We’ll be tracking the action all night. Check back later for the scores.

Results from around Southern Nevada:

• Palo Verde gets back on track with big victory against Bonanza

• Shadow Ridge defeats Legacy for first time in school history behind Bakari Smith’s six scores

• Boulder City stays perfect with 33-6 win at Pahrump Valley

• Antonio Thomas and Chaparral run to 34-6 victory at Western

• Arbor View hangs on for victory against Green Valley

• Justin Brown, Joshua Brown get Eldorado an opening night victory

• Cheyenne struggles defensively in falling to California school

• Moapa Valley walks away with unsatisfying 54-19 victory at Faith Lutheran

• Late mistake forces Virgin Valley to work extra for third straight win

• ‘Tough’ effort improves Spring Valley to 2-0 on the season

• Centennial’s defense plays well while offense piles up points late in sloppy win at Durango

• Basic High gets off and rolling in 2012 with dominating victory at Rancho High

• Andrew Moreland, Jay Mattox step up for Las Vegas High in tight opening game

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