FIELDER’S CHOICES: List of unbeatens set to shrink

After two weeks of Jewish holidays, it almost feels weird to be going to a game tonight.

League play has hit the halfway mark, and if I were acing — or even passing — my math class, I probably could eliminate a couple of teams from the playoffs right now.

What I do know, though, is that six teams are undefeated within their respective leagues. At least one of them will get a loss this week, too.

Let’s take a look at a couple of candidates. For more picks, go to nevadapreps.com.

■ Green Valley (5-1, 3-0 Southeast) at Liberty (5-1, 3-0) — The Gators and Patriots look like mirror images of each other, and it goes beyond records.

Both teams rely on a punishing ground game, with Green Valley’s Aaron Love and Liberty’s Niko Kapeli among the area’s top running backs.

Both also beat up other teams on defense and occasionally have been able to air it out at quarterback. Kai Nacua was good last week as the Patriots’ capable aerial attacker, and Liberty might need him even more tonight.

Home-field advantage also is a nice edge for Liberty … Patriots by 3.

■ Desert Pines (2-4, 2-2 Northeast) at Rancho (2-4, 2-2) ­– It was only a matter of time before Desert Pines got rolling. Back-to-back wins can do that for anyone.

Leon Hayes did everything last week against Valley — running, receiving, intercepting a pass. He even was named homecoming king (only because I declined. Thanks, guys, but I don’t even go to Desert Pines.)

With Hayes producing behind his mammoth offensive line, the Jaguars should roll into the playoffs.

The hardest part of the regular season is behind them … Desert Pines by 10.

■ Arbor View (6-1, 5-1 Northwest) at Cimarron-Memorial (4-3, 3-3) — I was going to list every Aggie who has run the ball in this space, but the guys at Nevadapreps.com told me space is tight.

Instead, I’ll just say that Roderick Eason and Donnie Gaskin are the real deal. And the other 800 backs at Arbor View are good, too.

They aren’t undefeated, but the Aggies have just about punched their ticket to the playoffs.

This one should complete the deal … Arbor View by 7.

■ Pahrump Valley (1-5, 1-4 Southwest) at Clark (2-4, 2-4) — Just so you can’t say I care only about schools in Clark County, here’s some love for the guys across the Nye County line.

Pahrump has already had a successful season, if only for not being winless in the Southwest again. It’ll be a good confidence booster for Division I-A — or whatever the NIAA is calling it — next year.

The Chargers’ Shane McLin is finding a groove, and it couldn’t come much later for his team.

Here’s some more momentum … Clark by 14.

Last week: 8-0 (6-2 with points)

Season: 34-14 (26-21-1 with points)

Contact Fielder at fielder@nevadpreps.com.