Palo Verde-Gorman sure to draw crowd

For the first time since I started writing for the Review-Journal, I'm already on location for a football game.

The Palo Verde-Bishop Gorman game might draw the biggest crowd of the year, and I'm writing from next to the south end goal post at Gorman to make sure I have a seat for the game.

You might want to consider getting there early, too. It's big whenever these teams play each other. This year's game might attract the biggest crowd of any high school game ever played in this state.

They should move it to Sam Boyd Stadium, but UNLV officials won't let them. It would produce the second-biggest crowd of the year at the stadium, behind only the U2 concert. And might draw more people than any three Rebels games combined.

If you come to the game tonight, make sure you come up and say hi ... if you can find me.

Here are my four to score. For the rest of the playoff picks, head over to Nevadapreps.com.

• Palo Verde (10-1) at Bishop Gorman (11-0): I'm a little more used to seeing these teams meet in the next round, but Legacy went and got really good and knocked Palo Verde down a notch.

Last year the Panthers put it on Notre Gorman in the Sunset final, running away with the game in the second half.

But this Palo team isn't quite as good, and the Gaels actually have a passing game this year.

Riddle me this: What are 50, 56, 31, 58, 72, 63, 50, 61 and 41?

Answer: Gorman's margin of victory in its past nine games.

Palo moved on last year. This year, the empire strikes back. Gorman by 12.

• Cimarron-Memorial (8-2)

at Legacy (11-0): If not for a questionable roughing-the-kicker call in overtime, the Longhorns wouldn't be undefeated.

Cimarron remembers that call well. The Spartans saw it, the missed kick and a made 2-point conversion after the penalty ... and it cost Cimarron a win.

The Spartans, with great runners James Poole and Stephen Nixon, need no other motivation.

Legacy battled through nerves last week to dump Spring Valley. Devin Wiedemann will need to be at his best tonight.

This should be a battle. But in the end, Cimarron's speed might be enough. Cimarron by 4.

• Desert Pines (6-4) at Basic (9-1): It's almost never good when the punter is your team's spotlight player in a game.

But that was the case for Basic when these teams met on Sept. 4. Kelly Armistead's fake punt sent Basic on its way to a 25-6 win at Desert Pines.

And it sent the Wolves on their way to a great season.

Desert Pines' offense can be either explosive or almost nonexistent. Explosive would be the way to go this time.

Basic would love another shot at Del Sol -- and that could come in a state semifinal. This gets the Wolves one step closer. Basic by 7.

• Liberty (7-3) at Canyon Springs (7-2): These teams combined for five wins last season, with Liberty getting four of those.

But they've both made tons of progress this year with Liberty's team full o' Tais moving up the Southeast League ladder to finish third.

The Patriots can shorten games with their ball-control offense. And that might be the right game plan.

Keeping a close eye on the Pioneers' Deavin Rimmey would be another good idea, though Canyon Springs also can throw it with Tyler Ward at quarterback.

Liberty won by eight when the teams played Sept. 17. This one should have a different result. Canyon Springs by 2.

Last week: 13-1 (overall), 10-4 (with points)

Season: 82-20 (overall), 74-28 (with points)

Contact Fielder at fielder@nevadapreps.com.