Late-season drama seems lacking in Sunset

Normally this would be crunch time for football teams in the Sunset Region.

Two weeks to go, the scramble for playoff spots heating up.

Not so much this year.

With a lot of matchups between haves and have-nots still left on the schedule, the playoff spots aren't quite decided, but they're close.

So I have to find my drama elsewhere, or just hope that the Sunrise -- which starts its playoffs a week later -- has some.

In the Southwest, Bishop Gorman will be the No. 1 seed, Durango the No. 2 and Spring Valley probably No. 4.

So who does that leave slithering into the No. 3 spot? That'd be Desert Oasis. In just its second year. Nice.

In the Northwest, the order of finish should be Legacy, Palo Verde, Cimarron-Memorial and Cheyenne, though they still could dance around a bit.

I should get those predictions right. Not so sure about these.

Here are four to score. For four more, visit www.nevadapreps.com.

• Legacy (8-0, 6-0 Northwest) at Centennial (3-5, 3-3): A win in either of its last two games gives Legacy a share of its first Northwest title and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

Anyone expecting a letdown after the Longhorns' win over Palo Verde got, well, let down. Legacy steamrolled Cheyenne without leading rusher Deshae Edwards.

Martell Crockett and L.J. McMorris got to show that they're pretty good, too.

Centennial gave Del Sol a big scare last week, but the Bulldogs have had this tragic habit of building themselves up, then letting down. Legacy by 14.

• Basic (6-1, 3-1 Southeast) at Silverado (5-2, 1-2): And while I'm on the subject of letdowns, I keep picking Silverado. And losing.

In a deja vu-all-over-again type of thing, the Skyhawks looked really good in the offseason and now might miss the playoffs ... again.

Offensively, they have the weapons, but defenses have figured them out.

Basic, I can't figure out. Look shaky in an overtime win against Liberty, then pound your rival.

A Silverado win here makes this league interesting. So I probably should keep picking Silverado because eventually I'll be right. Or not. Basic by 4.

• Del Sol (7-0, 3-0 Southeast) at Liberty (4-3, 2-2): How good is Del Sol?

Good enough to be undefeated. And good enough to find ways to win.

Just look at the Dragons' past five games. Throw out a 20-point win against Silverado and you have wins by five, seven, two and six points. They just get it done, and running back Dezerick Reed is a big part of that.

Liberty is trying for its first playoff berth on the arm of Samuel Tai and the legs of Teu Tai. This could be a stumbling block. Del Sol by 6.

• Sierra Vista (1-7, 1-5 Southwest) at Desert Oasis (5-2, 4-2): No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. I did write that Desert Oasis will make the playoffs.

The Diamondbacks deserve it. They've played like a playoff team most of the time. And they could finish the regular season with five straight wins.

Note to Desert Oasis: You're new to this, so don't fall into any bad habits in the final two weeks.

This is a rivalry game, with so many former Sierra Vista students now going to Desert Oasis. And that could inspire the Mountain Lions. For a while. Desert Oasis by 9.

Last week: 7-2 (overall and with points).

Season: 53-17 (overall), 50-20 (with points).

Contact Fielder at fielder@nevadapreps.com.