Nevada Preps high school football top 5 games of the week

All games at Thursday at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted

Liberty at Desert Oasis

Liberty has never fallen to the Diamondbacks, and this is unlikely to be the year. Desert Oasis will have the home-field advantage this time around, but that’s about the only factor that will not work in the Patriots’ favor.

Though Liberty is 1-2, that’s not uncommon for the second-ranked Patriots as they typically play a grueling pre-league schedule loaded with elite opponents. They kept scores tight in losses to top-ranked Hawaiian team Mililani and third-ranked Skyridge of Utah, and blew out American Samoa’s Tafuna. With the experience the players gained from the high-level competition, fans can expect a balanced offensive spectacle. Led by quarterback Madden Delacruz, running back Ezra Sanelivi and wide receiver Louden Williams, Liberty is capable of putting big numbers on the board in this first league game.

Though the Diamondbacks (2-1) lost this meeting 45-0 last year, they’ll come out looking for a few big plays and efficient clock consumption because they probably won’t win a high-scoring affair. Desert Oasis defenders such as standouts Eric Johnson and Brock Nuckles will need to be aggressive, possibly forcing multiple turnovers in order to give their team a chance.

Legacy at Spring Valley

Legacy already would have been favored in this league opener, but the absence of Grizzlies coach Eric Dyer on the sidelines in last week’s loss to Desert Oasis raises even more doubt. Both teams sit at 2-1, but the Longhorns have played a tougher schedule that gives them a clear edge.

Legacy will do its offensive damage through the air, as QB Jaelynn Love-Carter is averaging 206.7 passing yards and wide receiver Ky’Ree Perkins is averaging 66.3 reception yards. The Longhorns also put 300 rushing yards in the book to rout Silverado in their season opener, so the run is not off the table.

Running back Cole Baer could represent Spring Valley’s best chance to keep this one close. He is averaging 138 yards per game, a stat that could help the Grizzlies mount extended drives to keep Legacy’s offense off the field. That would allow QB Antwan Osborne to take some risks with deep passes to standout wide receiver King Kahalewai. Spring Valley has held opponents to 48 combined points this season, so moderate offensive success might be enough to keep the score close.

Sunrise Mountain at Valley

The Miners look better on paper, but Valley has developed a recent knack for surprising such teams. Both squads remain undefeated heading into this first league game, though neither has played a particularly tough schedule.

Sunrise Mountain (3-0) has outscored opponents 98-22 this season, so Valley will face challenges on both sides of the ball. QB August Krael passed for 166 yards and two touchdowns in the Miners’ 26-2 win over Rancho last week, and wide receiver Malaki Thomas had 101 receiving yards. Defensively, San Diego State commit Roman Pulefaasisina will lead a dominant line that has held three opponents to a combined one touchdown this season.

The Vikings (2-0) will have to tighten up a defensive backfield that has been vulnerable so far, having coughed up 54 points in two games. They’ll also need a high-scoring performance out of the offense, which is led by QB Nah’lage Butler and running back Dashawn Johnson. They have averaged 40 points a game this season, and will likely need at least that to keep this one close.

Centennial at Arbor View, 7 p.m.

Don’t be fooled by Arbor View’s 0-3 record. The fifth-ranked Aggies have played a brutal pre-league schedule that has included elite opponents from Utah, California and Arizona, and lessons have been learned in those losses. As perennial championship contenders, they will keep the score of this league opener close at the very least.

QB Thaddeus Thatcher, an Oregon State commit, is Arbor View’s biggest threat. He passed for 2,525 yards and 29 TDs last year while also rushing for 605 yards and seven more scores. Any team that fails to contain him has little chance of winning. Kamareion Bell is a complementary threat at running back, and the Aggies possess two massive lines. Most importantly, the entire team is ready to unload its frustration.

Fourth-ranked Centennial (2-2) also has played a tough pre-league schedule, but will have little room for error. Defensive backs Jayden Thomas and Maxwell Miles must prevent Thatcher from connecting with primary receivers. Meanwhile the defensive line must limit the quarterback’s ability to run the ball. Successful execution could allow QB Blake Nadler (1,038 passing yards and 15 touchdowns) and wide receiver Jayden Thomas (139 receiving yards per game), to steal the Aggies’ momentum with a couple of early strikes. The Bulldogs put 74 points on the board two weeks ago, so this game easily could become an offensive shootout.

Coronado at Desert Pines, 7 p.m.

Coronado is rested after a week off. Desert Pines is coming off a 59-6 victory over Cheyenne. Will the Cougars capitalize on their rest, or will the Jaguars use momentum to their advantage? The answer could determine this game’s winner.

Coronado’s defense will be a key. If the ninth-ranked Cougars (2-1) can apply consistent pressure on Jaguars QB Jerome Jackson, they can prevent Desert Pines from developing a rhythm. Linebackers Rocco Casella and Hayden Barnewolt, and linemen such as Kaison Henriques also will play a major role. That would allow QB Gavin Maalouf to take control with effective strikes to standout wide receiver Tristan Grau. The Cougars have scored 97 points in their last two games, and a repeat performance would likely put them over the top.

The Jaguars (2-1) will count on Jackson to deliver another big performance. He was 12-for-12 passing for 185 yards and six TDs in last week’s win. If he can connect early with wideout Mykhale Johnson on some deep routes, Desert Pines could disrupt Coronado’s defensive game plan. The defense has held opponents to 17 points per game this season and had six sacks last week. Those numbers would be a tall order against the Cougars, but anything close could be a difference maker.