5 high school football games to watch in Southern Nevada on opening night

It’s a busy week for high school football teams across Southern Nevada as the opening night slate features 23 Las Vegas‑area games. The 2025 campaign begins Friday with a mix of out‑of‑state showdowns, league contests and rivalry matchups. Thirty Clark County School District programs are competing as independents this fall, yet the action on the field promises the usual intensity. Here are the five games to watch for the opening week of the prep football season. (All games at 6 p.m. Friday unless otherwise noted.) **Sierra Vista at No. 9 Desert Oasis** The two southwest rivals will open their seasons in the annual “Bell Game.” Sierra Vista edged Desert Oasis 23‑16 last year with a pair of fourth‑quarter touchdowns. The squads reside in different CCSD independent divisions—Desert Oasis in Division I and Sierra Vista in Division II—but each is seeking a victory over its rival to build momentum toward a possible Superintendents Cup run in their respective divisions. Desert Oasis holds the No. 9 spot in the Review‑Journal’s preseason top‑10 Southern Nevada rankings. **Green Valley at No. 6 Foothill** The Henderson schools renew their rivalry in the season’s opening contest. Their most recent meeting occurred in 2023, when Foothill defeated Green Valley 34‑21 on October 6 at home. Both teams feature standout quarterbacks: senior Michael Lewis for the Gators (2,145 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and eight rushing scores in 2025) and junior Ryder Dobbs for the Falcons (24 touchdown passes). Foothill is ranked No. 6 in the RJ’s preseason rankings and competes in a CCSD independent group with Liberty and Desert Oasis. Green Valley aims to contend in Division II alongside Sierra Vista and Spring Valley. **Central East (California) at No. 5 Sloan Canyon** Sloan Canyon, after reaching the Class 4A state championship game in 2025, opens its season against a high‑profile California opponent. Central East, based in Fresno, is ranked No. 12 in MaxPreps’ California state rankings and No. 89 nationally. The Bengals posted a 14‑1 record last year. Sloan Canyon returns most of its roster from the 12‑1 season that saw the Pirates finish 12‑1, roll past Southern Nevada opponents and fall to McQueen for the title. The Pirates are ranked No. 5 in the RJ’s preseason poll and are considered a favorite, alongside Mater East, for one of the seven remaining state‑title‑eligible Southern Nevada teams in 4A. **No. 8 Mater East at No. 7 Faith Lutheran, 7 p.m.** The challenger to Sloan Canyon in the 4A division opens its season against a Faith Lutheran squad that has appeared in the past three state championship games. Mater East, led by Desert Pines High graduate and former UNLV standout Tim Hough, boasts one of the area’s most talented rosters, highlighted by returning quarterback James Monaghan IV (37 touchdown passes in 2025) and incoming transfers including three‑star recruits Michael Taylor, Demichael Burks (a BYU commit) and OL Phoenix Pollard (a UNLV commit). Faith Lutheran, ranked No. 7 in the Review‑Journal’s preseason rankings, lost six of its first seven games last year but rallied to reach the 5A state title game. The team returns 33 players, led by UNLV commit Jaden Mason. Mater East sits at No. 8 in the RJ’s preseason rankings. **Coronado at No. 4 Centennial, 7 p.m.** Centennial (West division) and Coronado (East division) will meet in a showdown between two of the top CCSD independent teams. Centennial seeks to position itself for the Superintendents Cup with returners such as Minnesota commits Jayden “Jet” Thomas and Maxwell Miles, plus OL Laseth Bryant (a UNLV commit). The Bulldogs captured lower‑level state titles in 2023 and 2024 and advanced to the 5A Southern Region championship game in 2025. Centennial is ranked No. 4 in the RJ’s preseason rankings. Coronado returns a strong core as the Cougars aim to compete with Liberty, Foothill and Desert Oasis in the East division for a chance to be among the top two teams vying for the Superintendents Cup. **Southern Nevada Week 1 high school football schedule** All games at 7 p.m. unless different noted **Friday** Green Valley at Foothill, 6 p.m. Central East (California) at Sloan Canyon, 6 p.m. Sierra Vista at Desert Oasis, 6 p.m. Spring Valley at Durango, 6 p.m. Bonanza at Chaparral, 6 p.m. Boulder City at Valley, 6 p.m. Sunrise Mountain at Western, 6 p.m. Providence Hall (Utah) at Pahrump Valley, 6 p.m. Arbor View at West (Utah), 6 p.m. PST/7 p.m. MST Losee at Bishop Gorman Mater East at Faith Lutheran Coronado at Centennial Palo Verde at Desert Pines Silverado at Legacy Eldorado at Las Vegas High Beaver (Utah) at Moapa Valley Hurricane (Utah) at Virgin Valley Cadence at The Meadows Judge Memorial Catholic (Utah) at CIVICA Academy Parowan (Utah) at Lincoln County Pahranagat Valley at Indian Springs Liberty at Mililani (Hawaii) 10 p.m. PST/7 p.m. HST **Saturday** View Point (California) at Lake Mead Academy