Scoring roundup, Thursday style: GV, Canyon Springs could produce another classic

By Ray Brewer (contact), Paul Delos Santos

Published Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013 | 7 p.m.

Updated Friday, Oct. 25, 2013 | 1 a.m.

These could be two of the best high school football games of the season.

Green Valley High visits Canyon Springs in a highly anticipated affair that will likely determine the Northeast League champion, and Desert Pines travels to Overton to face perennial Division I-A power Moapa Valley in a battle of undefeated teams for the Sunrise title.

Welcome to Thursday Night Lights. And not the televised game each week in Southern Nevada.

Nevada Day is being observed Friday in the Silver State, pushing high school football games ahead to tonight. With these two games leading the schedule, we could be in store for some back-and-forth affairs.

Last year, Green Valley topped Canyon Springs on a game-ending field goal to win the Northeast crown. Green Valley scored 16 unanswered points in the game’s final 10 minutes and drove 60 yards in the final seconds to get into field goal range to attempt the game-winner.

Canyon Springs enters as the lone undefeated team in Nevada’s Division I classification and has arguably its top defense. Green Valley is considered by most as the favorite to win the Sunrise Region, especially with junior quarterback Christian Lopez leading the area in passing and four legitimate passing targets.

At Moapa Valley, credit the schedule makers for putting the Pirates game with visiting Desert Pines as the regular season finale. Both teams are undefeated and clearly the class of the Sunrise League, making tonight one of those games that shouldn’t be decided until the final minutes.

Moapa Valley hasn’t lost at home since 2007 and seemingly plays for the state championship each year. Desert Pines, which is in its second-year in the classification, is led by a group of athletes at the skilled position that have been hard for the opposition to contain all season.

We’ll keep everyone posted throughout the night as scores become final. Remember to send game information and fan photos to the Sun on Twitter @lasvegassun using the hashtag #sunstandout.

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Stories about other high school football games around the valley:

• Faith Lutheran doesn’t get complacent, beats Western to push win streak to eight

• Bonanza’s strategy of not punting backfires in 79-0 loss to Gorman

• Doxtator-to-Persi connection pays dividends for Foothill in victory

• Palo Verde Panthers record second straight shutout

• Offensive line opens holes for Las Vegas rushing attack against Valley

• Centennial grabs third straight victory, blanks Cimarron

• Brothers band together as Coronado destroys Del Sol

• Off-night can’t keep DeMichael Walker, Legacy from another win

• Arbor View overpowers Shadow Ridge

• Mojave beats Pahrump Valley to claim second in Division 1A Sunset

• Silverado snatches up playoff berth

• Clark football back in playoffs after long drought

• Spring Valley snaps losing streak with win against Durango

• Last spot taken: Boulder City overcomes Chaparral for trip to postseason

• ‘It’s always a battle’: Liberty outlasts Basic