FIELDER’S CHOICES: Small-school playoff schedule confusing even for me

The playoff schedule seemed so simple.

Big schools play on Friday, small schools on Saturday.

Then the small schools went and tried to confuse me, not realizing that it’s not too difficult to do.

So instead of having five games Saturday at 1 p.m., we have one Class 2A game on Friday and one on Saturday, one Class 1A game on Friday and one on Saturday, and a lot of happy coaches who get to scout in person ... if they can find Alamo and Tonopah on consecutive days.

I’m picking 14 games this week, which might be a record. So here’s hoping I get any of these right.

Boulder City (6-4) at Virgin Valley (3-6)

Yes, you can go 0-2 in your league and still make the playoffs; if you’re in the Class 3A Southern League.

A three-team league, and we need playoffs? OK.

These two met two weeks ago, because if you have a three-team league, there’s no need to waste one-third of the league schedule in September, and Virgin Valley held on for a 15-14 win at home.

When the Bulldogs win, it’s because their defense plays well. Virgin Valley has scored more than 15 points in a game only three times this year and one of those was against Sunrise Mountain (so it doesn’t really count).

Asking that defense to hold on one more time against Devin Combs and the Eagles might be too much.

I’d also love to see a team that went 0-2 in its league go to state. Boulder City by 2.

Needles (5-4) at The Meadows (8-1)

The talk at the start of the year in Class 2A was all about how The Meadows could survive without Gerard Martinez at quarterback.

Ten weeks later it’s all about what a great job quarterback Garrett Gosse has done all year, throwing 25 touchdown passes and only five interceptions.

Needles kept it close when the teams met Oct. 9 in California, losing by only seven.

All moving this game to Friday night does is give one team of Mustangs an extra day to prepare for a northern opponent. I do know for sure the Mustangs will win. And I’m pretty sure it will be ...  The Meadows by 12.

Lincoln County (5-4) at Mountain View (8-2)

Just like the other 2A matchup, this is a rematch from last year’s postseason when Mountain View went to Panaca (and found its way back) and stunned the Lynx.

Consider this: Since the midway mark of last season, the Saints (who were 0-5 at that time) have won 13 of their last 17 games.

And maybe more importantly, Mountain View has won five in a row, including a 36-16 victory over the Lynx on Sept. 19.

Both teams have improved since then, but I don’t think Lincoln County has made up the 20-point difference. Mountain View by 10.

Round Mountain (3-6) at Pahranagat Valley (7-0)

Here’s a multiple-choice quiz for you, since I skipped mine in class yesterday.

Pahranagat Valley is:

 

A) The defending Class 1A state champion;

B) Really, really ticked off over having to drive all the way to Beatty last week only to turn around and go back home when no officials showed up;

C) A team that beat Round Mountain by 32 points on Sept. 18;

D) All of the above.

Yep, D. Give Round Mountain credit, though. The Knights’ 32-point loss to Pahranagat Valley was the closest game the Panthers have played all season. Pahranagat Valley by 40.

 

When Tonopah started the season 0-4, including losses by 32 points to Laughlin and 50 points to Pahranagat Valley, the Muckers nothing like the team that went to the state final last season.

Five straight wins later, and they’re back to being the No. 2 seed.

One of those wins was a 61-20 rout of Spring Mountain two weeks ago.

The boys on the hill aren’t 41 points worse than Tonopah, but the Muckers have experience and a really cool nickname on their side. Tonopah by 14.