FIELDER’S CHOICES: Clock running, more like crawling, on football season

I’ve finally figured out something I like about television games.

Besides having to guess if field goals and extra points are good because we never see the ball, or almost missing a touchdown so we can see a group of four people in the stands, that is.

Because of last week’s Faith Lutheran-Shadow Ridge game ending at nearly 11:45 p.m., I got to miss the first two periods of school on Friday.

I’m all for that every week, but there’s no school on Friday this week, so all of the Class 4A games are Thursday. I’m done trying to figure out this schedule.

Seriously, though, 11:45 p.m.? Really? The TV people don’t see anything wrong with that? I like missing school, but not everyone does.

It’s great that we get television time, but we can’t pre-empt an episode or two of Seinfeld to get the game over at a reasonable time?

Not every game involves 80-some passes and guys going out of bounds on every play, but still. Some of Faith Lutheran’s players got home after 1 a.m. on a school night. Come on TV people, get with it.

On to the picks.

Foothill (10-1) at Las Vegas (10-1)

Why not start with the TV game, and a couple of throwing teams at that?

The Falcons must take time off the clock by running Kyle Keplinger effectively to have a chance.

Hasaan Henderson has been on track passing lately, and if he finds Cameron Rogers in the open field, it’s over.

Las Vegas has been waiting for this rematch of last year’s playoffs all year. Las Vegas by 10.

Canyon Springs (7-3) at Liberty (9-1)

Canyon Springs keeps playing the underdog card to perfection, but I’m not sure coach Hunkie Cooper has enough motivational speeches to carry the Pioneers through this one.

Trey Evans and the Pioneers are really athletic, but Liberty is strong. And really, really big.

This one stays close early before Niko Kapeli and Ty Bird find bigger holes in the second half. Liberty by 12.

Durango (7-3) at Arbor View (9-1)

You have to feel for Arbor View. One quarter away from beating Palo Verde and wrapping up a league title, the Aggies instead likely will have to beat Durango, Bishop Gorman and Palo Verde to win the region.

Julio Mora and the Trailblazers might be enough to end the Aggies’ dreams early.

Keeping the ball away from Julio by running Roderick Eason, Christian Rodriguez and Donnie Gaskin should work. Arbor View by 6.

Centennial (7-3) at Desert Oasis (8-2)

Both of these teams had a bye last week and should be rested.

Centennial hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2003, which is really hard to believe. The Bulldogs’ defense has been pretty good this year, but they’ll need to be great in this game.

The Diamondbacks are 8-0 when they score 30 or more points and 0-2 when they don’t. I’m not sure they get 30 against Centennial.

I have no idea why, but something tells me Trevon Barnes will be the difference in this one. Desert Oasis by 7.

Spring Valley (6-4) at Palo Verde (10-0)

Marcus Teal’s debut as Spring Valley’s head coach has been a pretty good one.

The Grizzlies four losses are all to good teams — Liberty, Desert Oasis, Durango and Gorman — though none was close.

And Spring Valley has won three straight to get into the postseason.

Palo Verde has won 10 straight. Make it 11. Palo Verde by 20.

Shadow Ridge (6-4) at Bishop Gorman (9-2)

I’ve heard Shadow Ridge was pretty excited when Cheyenne beat Legacy last week, giving Shadow Ridge the last playoff berth from the Northwest League.

The Mustangs might still be excited, especially after last season’s 1-8 record.

That excitement won’t last long Thursday, though.

A couple weeks ago I said I’d have to be insane to pick against Gorman the rest of the year.