High School Football Picks: Nevada state championship games

The season comes down to this: four state champions, one final picks column.

We’ve gone 177-55 picking most games — a record worth defending at state. Time to crown some champions.

Saturday

Class 3A

Moapa Valley vs. Churchill County

10 a.m. Mackay Stadium at UNR

Outside of Bishop Gorman, no team in Nevada has been more consistent than Moapa Valley. The Pirates make deep playoff runs year after year, and the reason is simple: coach Brent Lewis. He’s spent decades building a powerhouse at his alma mater, winning multiple championships along the way. This program is his life’s work.

The Pirates are imposing their will on the ground, with Briggs Hickman rumbling for 200 yards on 20 carries in the state semifinals. Churchill County enters with an impressive defensive résumé — just 13 points allowed in their first seven games — and coach Calvin Connors has emerged as a rising star in the coaching ranks.

But Moapa Valley’s big-game experience will be the difference. The Pirates’ punishing ground attack will wear down Churchill County, and Lewis will add another chapter to his storied career. Moapa Valley 23, Churchill County 19

Nov. 25

Class 4A

Sloan Canyon vs. McQueen

12:20 p.m. Allegiant Stadium

It’s refreshing to see McQueen back on the championship stage. The Reno program remains one of Nevada high school football’s storied brands, a powerhouse through the 1990s and 2000s that collected six state titles — most recently in 2008 against Palo Verde. For those who remember the Lancers’ glory years, this appearance alone feels like a victory.

But nostalgia won’t translate into a seventh trophy.

McQueen faces a daunting task, and the 450-mile trip south to Las Vegas only adds to the challenge. Not that geography matters much when Sloan Canyon is waiting. The Pirates are undefeated and largely unchallenged, built around an explosive passing attack that has shredded defenses all season.

Junior quarterback Cade Hoshino has thrown for 2,856 yards and 41 touchdowns. His favorite target is fellow junior Brandon Quaglio, who has hauled in 64 catches for 1,149 yards and 22 touchdowns. That’s right, Quaglio finds the end zone every three catches.

With both Hoshino and Quaglio returning next season, Sloan Canyon’s window for dominance is just opening. Sloan Canyon 39, McQueen 16

Class 5A

Spanish Springs vs. Faith Lutheran

3:40 p.m. Allegiant Stadium

A team with a losing record doesn’t typically find itself competing for a state championship. Yet Faith Lutheran (6-7) won’t apologize for being here. The Crusaders have rattled off four consecutive victories to reach the title game, capped by Friday’s stunning 28-point second-half comeback against Centennial in the regional final.

That underwhelming record deserves context. Faith Lutheran scheduled a gauntlet of nonleague opponents from Utah and California, absorbing losses that will prove invaluable when they face an undefeated Spanish Springs (12-0) squad that has dominated the competition. Spanish Springs has outscored opponents 533-142 and won all but one game by double digits — a potential vulnerability in what figures to be a tightly contested championship.

Spanish Springs possesses the talent to compete in the Open Division — though that’s a debate for another time. What they haven’t faced is a team with Faith Lutheran’s combination of skill and coaching. The Crusaders should enter as massive underdogs, yet their battle-tested résumé suggests they’ll make this far closer than the records indicate. Expect Faith Lutheran to push Spanish Springs to the brink before ultimately falling short of a championship for the third consecutive year. Spanish Springs 27, Faith Lutheran 22

Open Division

Arbor View vs. Bishop Gorman

7 p.m. Allegiant Stadium

Everyone wants a competitive championship game. After Bishop Gorman’s 69-7 demolition of Arbor View last year, the hope is that this rematch delivers the drama Allegiant Stadium deserves.

The reality? The trenches tell a different story.

Arbor View boasts legitimate star power in Utah-commit quarterback Thaddeus Thatcher and a stable of Division I receivers. On paper, that’s a recipe for explosive plays.

But football is won at the line of scrimmage, and the Aggies face a significant problem: their best offensive lineman didn’t suit up in last week’s semifinal win over Liberty. Against a Gorman defensive front that will bring relentless pressure, that absence looms large.

No quarterback — regardless of talent — thrives when they’re running for their lives. And after absorbing a few hits from Gorman’s defense, even the most composed signal-caller starts feeling ghosts in the pocket.

The Gaels entered the summer as the prohibitive favorite to win state. That’s true every year, frankly.

The question isn’t who wins — it’s whether the game stays competitive long enough for the Allegiant Stadium crowd to enjoy their night before the running clock takes over. Bishop Gorman 55, Arbor View 7.