There’s nothing better than football over Labor Day weekend.
It’s the opening Saturday of the college season, a time for fantasy drafts ahead of the start of the NFL, and of course, high school games at 6 p.m. on Friday night.
Tickets are less than $10, concessions are cheap (and tasty) and the entertainment is top notch. Aside from the game, there are performances from the band and cheerleaders in a Friday night tradition that has brought communities together for decades.
Let’s take a look at this week’s schedule. The picks column went 16-3 last week and sits at 33-5 overall for the season.
Thursday
Moapa Valley (2-0) at Boulder City (1-0)
Love how Thursday Night Lights is spotlighting the class 3A. Moapa Valley 34, Boulder City 13
Friday
Bishop Gorman (1-1) at St. Louis of Hawaii (1-1)
Traveling to the islands will be no easy task, but St. Louis is down this year. Gorman 41, St. Louis 9
Shadow Ridge (1-1) at Shadow Ridge of Arizona (1-1)
Guarantee of the week: The winner will be Shadow Ridge — just not sure if it will be the Nevada or Surprise, Ariz., school. Shadow Ridge of Nevada 29, Shadow Ridge 23
Del Sol (0-2) at Chaparral (0-2)
Seems like a good week for my Cowboys to get into the win column. Chaparral 34, Del Sol 20
Sierra Vista (1-1) at Sunrise Mountain (2-0)
This will be a 45-minute bus ride for Sierra Vista, and that matters in a close game. Sunrise Mountain 22, Sierra Vista 12
Bonanza (0-1) at Cheyenne (0-2)
Anyone have a coin? Cheyenne 7, Bonanza 6
Centennial (0-2) at Foothill (0-2)
Foothill makes some improvements, gets a win. Foothill 27, Centennial 6
Palo Verde (1-1) at Silverado (1-0)
Silverado a heavy favorite for a second straight undefeated season. Silverado 45, Palo Verde 0
Legacy (0-2) at Desert Pines (1-1)
Chalk up another mercy-rule victory for the Jaguars. Desert Pines 48, Legacy 0
Cimarron-Memorial (0-2) at Las Vegas (0-1)
Las Vegas is significantly better than its blowout loss last week. Las Vegas 32, Cimarron-Memorial 16
Rancho (2-0) at Durango (1-1)
Durango is a big-time upgrade in competition for Rancho. Durango 29, Rancho 15
Sierra Canyon of California (0-2) at Green Valley (0-1)
Sierra Canyon — home of Bronny and Bryce James in basketball — working to become a national brand in football. Sierra Canyon 39, Green Valley 13
Faith Lutheran (2-0) at Damonte Ranch (0-2)
Always take the Las Vegas team against a Reno opponent. Faith Lutheran 34, Damonte Ranch 12
Saturday
Liberty (1-1) at Pittsburg of California (1-0)
Local teams always struggle on the road in California. Pittsburg 31, Liberty 24