FIELDER’S CHOICES: Games are a day late, but my picks are still great

No, your calendar isn’t wrong. It’s high school football on Saturday this week.

And that’s good for me, because it means I can go to a game that night instead of getting shot down when I ask girls out.

With league play starting on the left side of town, here are my fearless league championship predictions.

It’s not exactly a secret that Bishop Gorman will win the Southwest. What is a secret is that Gorman turned down an invitation to join the Western Athletic Conference. Apparently the competition isn’t good enough.

Palo Verde isn’t as strong as it was in either of the last two years, but Brandon Wright might run for 2,000 yards. Too many teams in the Northwest lost too much. I can’t see any of them running the table. Palo wins the Northwest.

On to the game picks after another 7-1 showing last week. Try picking against me this week. Get all eight right and win a date with me.

Arbor View (2-0) at Centennial (2-0)

It really does make sense that this is the best Northwest League matchup of the week. Trust me.

The Aggies and Bulldogs both have had a nasty habit recently of starting fast and fading even faster.

It’s still too early to tell if either one is for real.

Behind runners Jordan Godman and Roderick Eason, the Aggies beat up on the Northeast in the first two weeks. Taj Cole and the Bulldogs struggled last week before rallying to beat Green Valley, 19-13. Just as I said they would. By six. Look it up.

Arbor View lost about 823 seniors, but it might be better this year. And I don’t trust Centennial this week. Arbor View by 4.

 

League play doesn’t start yet on the right side of town, but this isn’t a bad little nonleague game.

Canyon Springs is young, and it showed against Del Sol. Basic showed some grit last week, climbing on Benito Gutierrez’s back and rallying past Durango.

Say what you will, but I really like the Southeast this year. It’s going to be fun watching five teams compete for four playoff spots.

Speaking of fun, Basic continues to have it. Basic by 8.

Legacy (0-1) at Faith Lutheran (1-0)

The Longhorns have had two weeks to think about a one-point loss to Spring Valley and prepare for the pass-happy Crusaders.

Faith Lutheran threw 51 passes in its opener, and that’s more than many Northwest teams will throw all year. If Joe Portaro’s arm doesn’t fall off or he doesn’t get knocked into next week on a blitz, the Crusaders might put the ball up 400 times this year.

Legacy needs to control the line and make the clock keep running. Give the ball to L.J. McMorris. Little-known secret No. 2: L.J. stands for Long Jaunt. Legacy by 6.

Spring Valley (1-0) at Liberty (0-1)

Liberty scared Palo Verde last week, keeping the game closer than many thought it would. The Patriots ran well with Niko Kapeli and Ty Byrd both going for more than 100 yards.

Spring Valley has a good weapon in kicker Diyan Nedelchev, whose name doubles as an eye chart.

Sept. 11 is Patriot Day. I can’t pick against Liberty. Liberty by 11.

Sierra Vista (0-2) at Pahrump Valley (0-1)

If you’re looking for a Game of the Week in Nevada, this ... isn’t it.

It does have some neat notes, though.

Pahrump Valley hasn’t won since the season opener ... in 2008, and found a way to lose to Mountain View last week.

Sierra Vista hasn’t scored since ... the last time it played Pahrump, on Oct. 29.

The Mountain Lions’ streak ends. The Trojans’ doesn’t. Sierra Vista, 2-0.

Durango (1-1) at Bonanza (0-1)

Taking Gorman out of the equation, I’m thinking there are four teams left for three playoff spots in the Southwest, and these are two of them.

The Trailblazers are coming off a come-from-ahead loss to Basic last week, but are showing a little more diversity in the offense.

Bonanza hasn’t played since it was taken behind the woodshed by Foothill two weeks ago.

I’m expecting better from Sterling Sprau and the Bengals this week. But I’m also expecting Durango to win. Trailblazers by 5.

Cimarron-Memorial (0-1) at Cheyenne (0-0)

The good news for Cheyenne is it still has the same head coach as when it started the season.

David Cochran is the fourth coach in three seasons for the Desert Shields, who are debuting a new offensive play this year — the revolving door.

Cimarron’s defense was shredded by Las Vegas in the opening TV game. The Spartans are young and inexperienced and may struggle to make the playoffs.

Toughest pick on the board. Cimarron by 4.

Valley (0-2) at Del Sol (1-1)

Valley has been outscored 82-14 in its first two games, but there is good news for the Vikings.

The Northeast starts league play next week.

Chris Marshall and the Dragons weren’t razor-sharp last week against Canyon Springs, but bounced back OK from an opening-week loss to Durango. This one shouldn’t be close. Del Sol by 18.

Last week: 7-1 overall, 5-3 with points

Season: 14-2 overall, 11-5 with points.