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FIELDER’S CHOICES: No power ratings needed to call these winners

It’s the week before Thanksgiving, and you know what that means for the prep football schedule.

“Championship Week.”

Three title games involving Southern Nevada teams are on the docket. Basic and Liberty meet in the Class 4A Sunrise Region title game Friday for the third straight season, and the Class 3A and Class 1A finals are Saturday afternoon.

Fielder traditionally unveils some funky power ratings at this point in the season, but after last week’s near-perfect run, I’ve decided to play it straight. Boring, I know.

Oh, and don’t worry, Sunset Region fans. I made sure to include your games, too.

■ Basic at Liberty — Wolves quarterback Aaron McAllister enters the Sunrise final with 37 touchdown passes this season, which is tied for sixth all time in state history. He needs seven TDs to catch former Canyon Springs QB Devonte Christopher atop the record book. Just FYI, McAllister threw one TD when these teams met during the regular season.

Patriots QB Kenyon Oblad leads the state with 3,283 passing yards, fourth in state history. He will have to wait till next week (and maybe the week after that against Bishop Gorman) to try to become the state’s first 4,000-yard passer. … Liberty by 26.

■ Legacy at Arbor View — This is the second time these bovine rivals have met in the Sunset playoffs, with the first in the 2013 quarterfinals (a 40-0 Arbor View win). The “Battle of the Bulls” trophy won’t be on the line, but there’s even more at stake.

Aggies standout defensive lineman Greg Rogers was expected to make his college decision Wednesday but put the announcement on hold. I think he was preoccupied with making sure Legacy’s Samuel Turner doesn’t run for 277 yards like when these teams played during the regular season. … Arbor View by 14.

■ Faith Lutheran at Bishop Gorman — This game needs a nickname, but “Holy War” is taken. Oh, wait, I got it. The “Brawl for Hualapai.”

This probably will be the first of several future matchups in the Sunset playoffs between the west-side parochial schools. After all, one team is loaded with some of the area’s most talented underclassmen, and the other team is Gorman.

The Crusaders are punching above their weight still, but they’ll get some much-needed experience before that 2018 region final. … Bishop Gorman by 42½.

■ Desert Pines vs. Spring Creek — The Jaguars are looking to erase the memory of the 2014 Division I-A (now Class 3A) state final when they blew a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter and lost in overtime to Moapa Valley. Sorry, I had to bring it up since this game is on the same field at Gorman.

Spartans junior Dakota Larson has more receiving yards (1,673) than all of Desert Pines’ receivers put together. That worries me. But I expect Jaguars defensive linemen Monquel Glasow and Jalen Graves to make the difference. … Desert Pines by 7.

■ Spring Mountain vs. Pahranagat Valley — This is the fourth time in five seasons these teams have met in the state championship game. One of these times, I’ll have the guts to pick the Golden Eagles to pull the upset. Maybe next year. … Pahranagat Valley by 7.

Last week: 7-1, 7-1 (with points)

Season: 74-25, 65-34 (with points)

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

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