FIELDER’S CHOICES: Rivalry week arrives in full force

Football rivalry week has arrived in Southern Nevada, which, you guessed it, means Virgin Valley faces Moapa Valley tonight.

Another game is on Saturday’s undercard, as UNR invades UNLV (or at least a stadium seven miles from UNLV). If the Rebels win, the Fremont Cannon will be painted scarlet red. Which is essentially an urban legend for folks in Las Vegas.

The “Bone Game” has been around longer, and Las Vegas High retained Sir Herkimer’s bronzed bone with a 45-0 romp over Rancho last week.

The most blinged-out rivalry is the “Cleat Game,” in which Chaparral won Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive tackle Merlin Olsen’s bronzed cleat with a 52-14 rout of Eldorado on Sept. 14.

All of this makes me wonder why Bishop Gorman and Palo Verde don’t play for a bronzed transfer eligibility form.

Gorman always beats up on Reno, and Reno always beats up on UNLV, which explains this week’s Fielder Five rankings of the top teams in town: 1. Gorman; 2. UNLV; 3. Arbor View; 4. Liberty; 5. Centennial.

Follow me on Twitter (@FielderNVP) for proposition totals to go with tonight’s Week 8 picks:

Green Valley at Las Vegas — These teams run nearly identical offenses, have similar talent and even have buddy coaches.

Which all tells me it will be close.

With wins over Coronado and Basic, Green Valley has been slightly more impressive. Gators quarterback Christian Lopez is having a season to remember, and it’ll continue tonight. … Green Valley by 4.

Liberty at Del Sol — I know, I know. You read ahead and demand to know why this spread is so small.

The Patriots won their past two games against Canyon Springs and Coronado by a total of nine points, unable to cover both times.

Liberty still has perhaps the most versatile player in the state in quarterback, receiver, safety, linebacker and homecoming king (emphasis on player) Kai Nacua. But I’m still waiting for the Patriots to play their best game. … Liberty by 9.

Desert Oasis at Legacy — This is exactly the kind of “pick ’em” game that a certain Smart Alec oddsmaker has fumbled away all season.

Legacy running back Charles Julian rewarded me last week, and I’m backing the Longhorns in another must-win game. Don’t look now, but Legacy could be 2-1 in the Southwest League. … Legacy by 1.

Cimarron-Memorial at Centennial — Both teams play the game the right way, which is to say they don’t hold up deadline by going 20-for-50 passing.

With defensive back Dallas Cervantes flying around making plays, Cimarron has one of the area’s most underrated defenses. The Spartans held Gorman to 51 first-half points last week.

Centennial faces Gorman next week, but the Bulldogs won’t be looking past the Spartans. … Centennial by 6½.

Cheyenne at Faith Lutheran — Both teams are up and down enough for this to go either way.

Up and down the field, I mean. Uncle Lefty says playing the over on the total of 71 is the lock of October.

Faith Lutheran’s passing game, as usual, has been impressive. But Cheyenne has the ultimate weapon, and the guys wearing maroon might be chasing Desert Shields wunderkind Myloe Lewis into the end zone all night. … Cheyenne by 2.

Virgin Valley at Moapa Valley — Both towns come out in force for a rivalry that shows purity still exists in high school sports.

I once saw a sign at this game on the Virgin Valley sideline that read, “The best of blue and yellow is green.”

There will be more clever signs tonight, and there also will be Pirates running wild through a dominant offensive line as the  Victory Hammer  stays in Overton. … Moapa Valley by 18.

Last week: 6-0, 3-3 (with points)

Season: 29-11, 22-18 (with points)