Friday Night Roundup: Green Valley defeats Coronado, proves Southeast supremacy

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Published Friday, Oct. 10, 2014 | 7 p.m.

Updated Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 | 1:37 a.m.

This game has all the makings of a classic.

When the Green Valley High football team hosts Coronado tonight, more will be on the line than bragging rights between the Henderson rivals. The winner will be in the driver’s seat to win the Southeast League, which means having home field advantage in upcoming Sunrise Regional playoffs.

Coronado has won the last two meetings against Green Valley, including in 2012 when it upset Green Valley in the playoffs to earn a spot in the state semifinals. And even though Coronado won just four games last year with underclassmen in most key spots, they held Green Valley to just 21 points in an upset win.

Green Valley, led by quarterback Christian Lopez and running back Albert Lake, still advanced to last season’s Sunrise championship game. This year, Green Valley players are confident they can win the Sunrise — well, only if they can get past their nemesis in Coronado.

Both teams are ranked in the Sun’s top 10. Green is No. 6; Coronado No. 7.

Coronado (3-2) lost by one point early this season at four-time defending Sunrise champion Liberty, and fell again two weeks later in triple overtime at No. 2 Arbor View. Tonight, the Cougars can earn that marquee victory to show they are contenders in the race for the Sunrise crown.

Green Valley, who plays at home three times in the next four weeks to close the regular season, would be undefeated if not for a turnover-plagued loss to Palo Verde. If Green Valley protects the ball, you can easily argue they can score at will and run the table in the Sunrise.

This isn’t the lone game of interest.

Canyon Springs, which last week snapped Liberty's 40-game winning streak against Sunrise opponents, looks to continue its momentum against rival Las Vegas. Las Vegas enters on a three-game losing skid, but a victory in the Northeast League opener would quickly erase the bad memories of those defeats. Las Vegas would be alone in first place with a win.

In the Division 1-A, the game of the week is Sierra Vista at Faith Lutheran with heavy playoff implications. Five of the league’s eight teams, including defending state champion Faith Lutheran, entered the week with 2-2 league records. Sierra Vista is at 3-1.

We’ll keep you posted all night as scores become final. Send us your game information and fan photos on Twitter using #sunstandout or #702hsfb.

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Stories from games across the valley:

• Liberty beats Valley to begin new winning streak

• Centennial beats Cimarron-Memorial to remain undefeated

• Have you Heard: QB helps Sunrise Mountain snap losing streak

• Herman Gray sets school record in Arbor View’s Battle of the Bulls win

• Desert Pines dismantles second- straight opponent

• Faith Lutheran puts lessons to use in lopsided victory over Sierra Vista

• Gorman takes care of Durango, 77-0

• Palo Verde dispatches Shadow Ridge without issue

• Mulcock, defense help Moapa Valley roll in Hammer Game

• McAllister helps Basic hold off Eldorado in shootout

• Foothill edges Silverado, retains Victory Bell

• Chaparral owns three-game winning streak after rout of Boulder City

• Las Vegas halts losing streak, beats rival Canyon Springs in league opener

• Clark drills Western, 78-12

• Spring Valley rises to 4-1 in I-A Sunset with tense win

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21