The Southern Nevada Class 5A Division I state playoffs kick off this Friday with Bishop Gorman as the top seed. While Bishop Gorman received a first-round bye, the other teams will be battling it out on the field. Arbor View will host Basic, Coronado will welcome Desert Pines, and Liberty will host Foothill.
In Division I, there will be no regional title game as all Southern Nevada teams are part of the division. The top two teams will advance to the state championship game on November 26 at Allegiant Stadium.
The 5A Division II and III and 4A divisions will also have berths in the regional title game up for grabs.
In the 5A Division II, Faith Lutheran, last year’s state runner-up, will face off against Green Valley in one Southern League semifinal. Legacy, last year’s Division III state champion, will take on Shadow Ridge in another semifinal.
The winners of the 3A Southern League semifinals will move on to face Northern Nevada opponents in the state semifinals.
Here’s a look at the top five games happening this week:
Class 5A Division I
Foothill at Liberty
Liberty has been on a winning streak, while Foothill has struggled with five consecutive losses. In their regular-season meeting, Liberty dominated Foothill with a 40-7 win. Liberty’s strong defense and offensive players like Elijah Espinoza and Ezra Sanelivi will be key in this matchup.
Class 5A Division II
Green Valley at Faith Lutheran
Faith Lutheran remains undefeated and will be a tough team to beat. In their previous meeting, Faith Lutheran secured a 35-7 victory. Green Valley will need to step up their running game to compete with Faith Lutheran’s balanced attack led by Alex Rogers and Cale Breslin.
Shadow Ridge at Legacy
These two teams are evenly matched, with Legacy coming out on top in their last meeting. Legacy’s strong offense led by Aidan Crawford and Zaione Henderson will be a challenge for Shadow Ridge’s ground-heavy strategy.
Class 5A Division III
Desert Oasis at Las Vegas High
Desert Oasis is on a winning streak, but Las Vegas High, led by versatile quarterback Tanner Vibabul, will be a tough opponent. Desert Oasis will need a strong performance from quarterback Vincent Hales to keep up with Las Vegas High.
Class 3A South
Virgin Valley at Moapa Valley
Moapa Valley dominated Virgin Valley in their last matchup, but Virgin Valley is looking to bounce back. Both teams have strong offensive players and it will be a competitive game.
The playoff schedule includes exciting matchups across different divisions, promising intense competition and thrilling football action. Stay tuned for all the latest updates and results from the Southern Nevada high school football playoffs.