FIELDER’S CHOICES: I’m baaaaack
Guess who’s back.
OK, so my picture probably was the first clue.
Yep, your favorite prognosticator (big word ... I know, it impresses the chicks) returns for another season, though I almost didn’t.
After going 82-27 last year, I was offered my own 900 betting line. Almost jumped on that.
Until I realized that giving bad advice might lead to being hit in the kneecaps with my skateboard by some guy named Guido.
I’m going the safer route for my senior year and sticking with picks here and hoping not to get slapped by every girl I ask out.
Week 1 usually is the toughest, so cut me some slack.
Palo Verde at Spring Valley
The defending Sunset Region champion Panthers lost all but one member of their amazing starting offensive backfield.
Get this: Palo Verde might be better, even without guys like Torin Harris and Chaz Thomas.
Tyrone Blake is back, and the Panthers called up senior Ernest Hall from their farm team at Del Sol and gave up a player to be named later to get Centennial running back Brandon Wright.
Spring Valley will be happy if officials show up to their opener this year. They’d also be thrilled to find someone to replace graduated running back Jacques Adams.
Anton Stallworth, your time to shine at quarterback is now. Or next week against Clark. Palo Verde by 9.
Sunrise Mountain at Clark
Great. Another new school I can’t find. As though it wasn’t bad enough learning how to get to Desert Oasis.
The Miners welcome back, well, no one and have no seniors. They’re an independent this year, and the only 4A school varsity team they’ll play is Clark.
And what does that mean for Clark? A 1-0 start. Quick, when’s the last time Clark started 1-0?
What? You don’t know either?
Andre Clay is back after a 1,000-yard rushing season last year, and this is a good chance for him to start on 1,000 more. Clark, yes, Clark by 8.
Desert Pines at Cheyenne
If you’re looking for a sleeper team in the Northeast, and really, who isn’t, it could be Desert Pines.
Coach Paul Bennett has 17 returning starters, including quarterback Dalton Leilua, who will be more consistent than he was last season. He needs to be. Two of the three offensive starters the Jaguars lost were running backs.
Cheyenne graduated more than half of its team, including speedster Marcus Sullivan and beasts Damien Proby and Jeremiah Tofaeono.
Running back Jordan Butler and quarterback Chris Spencer are back, and Cheyenne even picked up a free agent from Palo Verde (wow, players leave there?) in Jahari Selmon.
Two teams trying to prove themselves early. That normally means go with the home team. I’m not normal. Desert Pines by 3.
Eldorado at Arbor View
Arbor View might have the most offensive weapons of any team in the Northwest that didn’t make offseason deals.
Back for the Aggies are quarterback Austin Anderson and running backs Demarlo Virgil and Taylor Wooten.
Eldorado returns no starters on defense. Not exactly a restaurant-quality first-week matchup. Arbor View by 16.
Del Sol at Valley
Forty-six rushing touchdowns and nearly 4,000 yards on the ground are gone. All that’s left of Del Sol’s great offense is wide receiver Evan Weinstock, who caught 11 passes last year.
Um, yeah, Del Sol is rebuilding.
Valley lost quarterback Kerwynn Williams but still has ultra-quick Garic Wharton.
Del Sol won by 28 when these teams met last year. Valley by 2.
Durango at Rancho
Durango is hoping for more wins than last year when it beat Pahrump and, well, no one else.
Leading rusher Julio Mora and quarterback Chase Roberts are back, and the Trailblazers have a player named Safari (Summit) on their team.
Rancho has just two offensive starters back, and neither of those is named James Cammack, who threw for more than 3,700 yards last year.
Tyler Gaston is a force on the Rams’ line. They could use three or four of him. Let’s go with Rancho on a late score. Rancho by 4.
Moapa Valley at Fernley
This could be a preview of the Class 3A state title game. Then again, any matchup of two teams in a 10-team class could be a preview of the state title game.
Seriously? Ten teams? That’s like a division title, not a state title.
Moapa’s bid for a third straight state title will be tough after losing running back Brad Weiss and quarterback Max Jenkins to graduation. Kelan Weiss and Hayden Cooper are battling for the quarterback job, and it’ll be running back by committee for a while.
This is more of a feeling-out type game for Moapa. Advantage Fernley now, Moapa later. Fernley by 4.
Lund at Henderson International
Here’s the eight-man special of the week as the Wolverines prepare for a return to the 1A Southern League.
Henderson International’s top 10 players are seven sophomores and three freshmen. The Wolverines play their home games at 3:30 to make sure no one misses bedtime.
Logan Christie at quarterback and Jay Sutorious at running back will be a fun combo to watch.
Lund canceled the last month of its season last year when it ran out of healthy bodies. Hope that doesn’t happen Friday. Henderson International by 18.
