Football games of the week — Week 4

Thursday Night Lights Game

Bonanza at Green Valley — Both teams are expected to be on the playoff bubble this year, with Bonanza earning the No. 3 seed in the Southwest League last season and Green Valley just missing a spot in the Southeast League.

A nonleague game obviously doesn’t count toward standings, but it’s never a bad thing to beat a cross-town team.

Games of the Week

De La Salle (California) at Bishop Gorman — It’s not unfair to say that if the Gaels haven’t lost coming into this game, then pull this one out, they probably won’t lose all season.

All four of Gorman’s nonleague games are against teams ranked nationally by USA Today, with the Spartans coming in at No. 10. De La Salle could be the last line of defense against an undefeated Gaels season and possibly a fourth consecutive mythical national championship. The last team to win four in a row? De La Salle, from 2000 to 2003.

These teams last met in Concord, California, on Sept. 25, 2010, a 28-14 victory for the Spartans.

Canyon Springs at Basic — If Liberty did not exist, which team would be the best in the Sunrise Region? This game may help answer that.

The Pioneers picked up a victory in their meeting last year, rallying from a 23-7 deficit to win in overtime. But the Pioneers were inconsistent, dominating Northeast League foes Valley, Rancho and Eldorado, but beating nonleague opponents Coronado, Sunrise Mountain and Cheyenne by only six points each.

Basic meanwhile, had a prolific offense and is gearing up for its rematch with Canyon Springs. The Wolves scored at least 30 points in all but three of their 12 games, and cleared 40 points six times.