FIELDER’S CHOICES: Add it up; 7-for-8 equals banner week

Less than a week into the school year, and I’m already tired of it.

Get up way earlier than anyone ever should be required to. Go to class. Do homework. Turn it in. Meh.

Seriously, when in life am I ever going to use trigonometry?

Will I need to know the cosine of a random angle to be a professional handicapper, or buy a house?

I have all the math I need on a football field and the scoreboard.

Test me on that sometime. Like last week, for instance, when I went 7-1.

I can’t get seven out of eight anything in class. Any class. Ever. I’m lucky if I get up on time seven out of eight days.

So I propose this to my teachers: I’ll do all my homework on football for the fall, and you use my winning percentage for my grade. I can’t possibly do any worse.

Now that the pressure’s on, here are my Week 2 picks, trigonometry-free for added comfort.

Basic (1-0) at Durango (1-0)

The only game I missed last week was Durango beating Del Sol.

Two years ago, Durango had one win. Since then, Chase Roberts and the Trailblazers are 9-3.

And they’re going for the Southeast League title this week against Basic.

The Wolves’ leading rusher last week had only 25 yards, and it didn’t come close to mattering thanks to Vince Carducci looking awesome at quarterback.

The Southeast will be a lot of fun this year with at least four really good teams. Basic by 3.

Liberty (0-0) at Palo Verde (1-0)

For what seems like at least 150 years, Darwin Rost has had his players run the double-wing offense at Palo Verde.

It’s not a mystery. We don’t need Harry Potter to figure this one out. Still, no one can stop it.

Sixty-two points and 424 rushing yards in the opener against Green Valley — and that was with a running clock.

Liberty and all of its Tais (Samuel, Teu and Albert ... and even Ty Byrd) get the next chance.

The Patriots have 14 starters back from a playoff team, including 330-pound lineman Tuli Fakauho and 300-pounder P.J. Taeao, both of whom have lunches bigger than I am.

Better challenge. Closer game. Palo Verde by 8.

Silverado (0-0) at Desert Oasis (1-0)

Former UNLV and NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham makes his debut on Silverado’s sideline. That’s good.

If he made his debut under center, it’d be better. Let’s face it, the Skyhawks weren’t exactly pass-happy last year.

Run left. Run right. Run middle. Punt.

Let’s hope that changes this year.

Desert Oasis’ defense could challenge Silverado. The Diamondbacks gave up only 11 yards — yes, yards; not points, yards — to Valley last week.

Every time I picked Silverado last year, I lost. Maybe a streak-breaker here. Silverado by 4.

Centennial (1-0) at Green Valley (0-1)

Talk about two teams that went in opposite directions in the first week.

Centennial’s Willie White scored every other time he had the ball — four touchdowns on eight touches — in a 48-13 pasting of Clark.

Meanwhile, the Gators were picking their jaws (and maybe some other things) off the ground after Palo Verde’s Brandon Wright torched them for 292 yards and four scores in a 62-20 rout.

Green Valley isn’t quite that bad, and Centennial might not be quite that good. But the Bulldogs are good enough to win here. Centennial by 6.

Western (0-0) at Sunrise Mountain (0-0)

The good news is someone gets a win.

The bad news is ... well, I’ll let you fill in the blank.

Western stacked up a grand total of one win last year and was outscored 179-12 in its last three games.

Sunrise Mountain may still be another year away from being able to be competitive on a consistent basis. Western by 10.

Rancho (0-1) at Sierra Vista (0-1)

Both teams would love to have a Week 1 do-over.

Sierra Vista didn’t score against Shadow Ridge and managed to give up a 5-yard punt return for a touchdown. Yeah, I know. Doesn’t happen every day.

I honestly think Rancho has potential this year. I may be insane, but I really believe it can only get better for Will Gosse-Gardet and the Rams. Rancho by 5.

Chaparral (0-0) at Foothill (1-0)

Foothill didn’t disappoint last week, steamrolling Bonanza and looking every bit like a Southeast contender.

The Cowboys will be better this year after going winless last season. It just won’t show here. Foothill by 24.

Mountain View (0-1) at Pahrump Valley (0-0)

I can’t pass a quiz, but I can give one.

Who did Pahrump beat for its last win and only win as a Class 4A school?

Yep, Mountain View ... 23-18 on Aug. 30, 2008.

Eighteen straight losses later, the Trojans entertain the Saints, who are coming off a 30-point loss in their opener.

With most of its offensive line back, Pahrump should be better this year. Will it translate into wins? It will here. Pahrump Valley by 4.
Last week: 7-1 overall, 6-2 with points.