FIELDER’S CHOICES: This one’s easy to call, thankfully

Welcome to the Thanksgiving edition of Fielder’s Choices. Pumpkin spice not included.

I spent two hours in line at the local big-box electronics store, and during that time I realized how much I loathe the phrase “Black Friday.” It’s almost as overused as the suffix “-gate” — Bountygate, Fajitagate, Spygate — or writing a holiday article that includes a list.

With that in mind, here is a list of what I’m thankful for:

— Orange juice with no pulp and that green bean casserole with the crunchy onions on top. I ate like three helpings of that stuff on Thanksgiving.

— Not having to attend any more prep football games with a cannon going off after a touchdown. The NIAA should ban those things, especially the one at Las Vegas that is so loud, it set off my car alarm.

— TV shows with the word “swamp” in the title.

— Snoop Dogg’s collaboration with Flavor Flav on the song “Bishop Gorman Move Them Chains.”

— The Division I playoffs lasting until December.

I posted my first perfect record of the season last week, and I’m pretty confident I know which local team is going to win Saturday in the state semifinal at Rancho. Here’s a closer look at the game:

LIBERTY (10-2) VS. BISHOP GORMAN (13-0)

These programs have carried the flag for Southern Nevada football recently. Liberty won its fifth straight Sunrise Region title last week and beefed up its schedule under coach Rich Muraco, taking on teams from Arizona and California the past three seasons. Gorman is the consensus No. 1 team in the nation, has won five straight large-school state titles and owns almost as many uniform combinations as Oregon’s football team.

Interestingly, the Patriots and Gaels have only met twice in the playoffs during their rise, with Gorman winning 56-34 in the 2011 state semifinals and 63-10 in the state final the following season.

■ How Liberty can win: Don’t corner blitz on the first play from scrimmage and give up a 69-yard touchdown to Alize Jones like Arbor View did last week. Hope Gorman quarterback Tate Martell misses a few third-down throws. Oh, and get the ball to Noah Jefferson and Ethan Dedeaux as often as possible.

Jefferson is a load at tight end, and even Gorman tackling machine Nicco Fertitta will have a hard time bringing down the 6-foot-6-inch, 285-pound Southern California commit by himself. Dedeaux, meanwhile, has the speed and shiftiness to challenge the Gaels’ secondary.

■ Why Gorman will win: The Gaels are too fast and, more important, too deep on both sides of the ball. It will be interesting to see whether Liberty can contain the Gaels’ rushing attack for four quarters, but what I really want to know is whether this Gorman team would beat the school’s 2011 team, which included 15 Football Bowl Subdivision recruits.

Gorman has won 66 consecutive games against teams from Nevada. (My total includes the Gaels’ forfeit victory over Western on Oct. 21, 2011, which is why it’s different from some people’s.) Regardless of what the number is, the Patriots don’t have enough playmakers on offense to prevent the Gaels from meeting Carson or Reed in the state final next week. … Bishop Gorman by 30.

Last week: 5-0, 5-0 (with points)

Season: 67-31, 60-36-1 (with points)

Contact Fielder at Fielder@nevadapreps.com. Follow @FielderNVP on Twitter.