Nevada Preps high school football top 5 games of the week

Friday

Bishop Gorman at Lone Peak (Utah), 6 p.m.

The Gaels’ season took a dramatic turn Saturday when they lost to Florida’s Christopher Columbus High on the road. The setback — predicted by almost no one — cost Gorman its No. 1 national ranking and changed the complexion of the season.

Though the odds of climbing back into the top spot are slim, the Gaels will take the field Friday knowing they have to win out to have a chance. Quarterback Ace Amina, wide receiver Noah Cole and running back Zyren Menor will need to be in top form Friday, and they’ll need support from a usually dominant defense that gave up the first 20 points of last week’s game. If all that happens, Gorman (2-1) should be in control.

The Knights (2-1) lost 59-3 to the elite IMG Academy (Florida) two weeks ago, but bounced back with a convincing 45-3 victory over Skyline (Utah) last week. Though their odds of beating Gorman are minimal, they could make it interesting if they capitalize on their home-field advantage (at 4,500 feet elevation in Highland, Utah) and get the most out of standout quarterback Cruz Christensen. On-field discipline will also be necessary, as the Knights instigated a sideline scuffle in the teams’ meeting last year that forced them to forfeit the game.

Arbor View at Hamilton (Arizona), 7 p.m.

The Aggies are off to an 0-2 start against out-of-state teams, and the competition isn’t getting any lighter this week. Next up is Arizona’s second-ranked Hamilton, which will be heavily favored.

Hamilton has won seven Arizona AIA 5A/6A State Championships since 2003, thanks in part to a coaching staff loaded with former college players. The Huskies (1-0) have a stadium that seats up to 10,000, and they commonly fill those seats. Wide receiver and USC commit Roye Oliver is a significant playmaker, and the defensive line is composed of massive players who take pride in stopping the run.

But the Aggies prefer to pass the ball, led by standout quarterback Thaddeus Thatcher. A few big plays early in the game could change the complexion of things, but last week’s porous offensive line will need to tighten up to give him some time to drop back. Success in the air could allow running back Kamareion Bell to surprise Hamilton out of passing formations. The odds are long, but last week’s Gorman game proved that odds don’t always predict winners.

Skyridge (Utah) at Liberty, 7 p.m.

This game will give the Patriots a chance to avenge last year’s 45-27 loss to the Falcons, who used a huge passing game (283 yards/5 TDs) to make it look easy.

But Liberty has improved since last year. QB Madden Dela Cruz (266 yards, 2 TDs in last week’s 42-0 blowout over American Samoa’s Tafuna) has gained experience, and running back Ezra Sanelivi, a BYU commit, has helped to balance the run-pass ratio. Utilization of these strengths, combined with four quarters of focused play by the defense could give the Patriots (1-1) the win.

The Falcons (2-1) are known to finish strong, and they are capable of fourth-quarter rallies to put games away. Veteran lineman Sua Ripley powers both lines, and his leadership could help dual-threat QB Jagger Fountaine to make things happen. Though these teams look fairly even on paper, the winner will likely be the squad that makes the most big plays while committing the fewest mistakes.

Green Valley at Basic, 7 p.m.

The Gators have won three of the last four “Henderson Bowl” games, but the scores have been tight. Green Valley will again be favored, but rivalry games are always tough to predict.

The Gators (1-0), coming off last week’s dominant 43-8 win over Canyon Springs, are powered by an explosive offense and a solid defensive line. They will attempt to exploit those strengths, as the Wolves (1-1) have struggled in the same areas. Expect a balanced offensive attack, though Green Valley’s strong offensive line could expand a running game that Basic can’t stop.

Basic also won last week, defeating Sierra Vista 34-12. The Wolves’ chances will hinge upon the defense’s ability to disrupt the rhythm of Green Valley QB Michael Lewis. Offensively, they’ll need to utilize their running game to put together sustained drives while keeping the Gators offense off the field. Home-field advantage and defensive consistency could also play a role. If the Wolves defense learned lessons from their embarrassing 42-8 loss to Foothill in the season opener, fans could be looking at another game that comes down to the final possession.

Saturday

Mililani (Hawaii) vs. Foothill at Liberty, 7 p.m.

The good news for the Falcons is that they’re 2-0 and ranked No. 6 in Southern Nevada by Nevada Preps. The bad news is that the Trojans are Hawaii’s top-ranked team, and they’re 3-0 after outscoring opponents 123-24 this season.

A Foothill victory would require a nearly perfect game. The Falcons like to pass, but they may need running back Anthony Taylor and their capable offensive line to power clock-eating ground drives that keep Mililani’s offense away from the ball. That could allow quarterback Ryder Dobbs to sneak in some big-play passes to wide receivers Owen Preslan-Aldrigde and Nixon Gasperosky. Most of all, the defense must keep the score low, as the Trojans are likely to dominate a high-scoring contest.

Mililani struggled to beat Liberty 31-24 in the season opener, as the Patriots largely kept the ball on the ground. They’ll be ready for that strategy this time, and will attempt to run up the score with the help of QB Hunter Fujikawa’s passing ability. Linebacker Toa Satele, an Oregon commit, will fuel a defense that already has two shutouts to its credit. Mililani enters as the heavy favorite.