High School Football Picks: Playoff semifinals in Nevada

Centennial’s Benjamin Griffin(10), (73) and AJ Hughes (16) celebrate after defeating Green Valley in a Class 5A football playoff game at Green Valley High School in Henderson Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. Photo by: Steve Marcus

The Open Division high school football playoffs in Nevada begin Friday with one game expected to be competitive and another projected as a blowout.

Bishop Gorman, the defending state champion and favorite to repeat, should cruise past Foothill. The Gaels would dominate any team in the state, so reaching the semifinals and earning a spot among the final four is an accomplishment in itself for the Falcons.

The other semifinal features Arbor View at Liberty in what could be a classic. Arbor View edged Liberty 31-28 last season in a thriller that went down to the wire.

Expect another nail-biter. Arbor View’s high-powered passing attack — led by quarterback Thaddeus Thatcher, tight end Zac Fares, and wide receivers Damani Warren and Jayden Williams — will be difficult to contain.

Liberty counters with a formidable ground game anchored by Ezra Sanelivi, who’s averaging six yards per carry with 10 touchdowns.

The picks column went 4-2 last week and stands at 174-52 for the season.

Arbor View at Liberty

Arbor View’s ugly 56-55 win over Desert Pines still haunts me. Yes, Desert Pines was young and talented — but surrendering 55 points? If Desert Pines’ offensive line gave the Aggies fits, what will Liberty’s do? Then again, Thatcher could torch Liberty’s secondary for 400 yards and punch Arbor View’s ticket back to the state championship game. Liberty 37, Arbor View 32

Foothill at Bishop Gorman

Every team was desperate to avoid Gorman in the postseason. The irony? None of those teams are still playing, while Foothill — who drew the short straw — gets to practice another week. Making the semifinals is its own reward for the Falcons, even if the scoreboard won’t be kind. Gorman 54, Foothill 6.

Centennial at Faith Lutheran

Faith Lutheran has surrendered just 15 points in two playoff games. The Crusaders have every reason to be brimming with confidence. Faith Lutheran 22, Centennial 18

Slam Nevada at Sloan Canyon

Slam’s ground game has churned out 2,000 yards this season. They’ll milk the clock and turn this into a slugfest. Sloan Canyon is the superior team — one that belongs in Class 5A — and won’t lose. But Slam will make the Pirates sweat. Sloan Canyon 29, Slam 26

Churchill County at Virgin Valley

Virgin Valley’s defense has been suffocating — shutting out Democracy Prep and Cimarron-Memorial, holding Moapa Valley to 17 points in the rivalry game, and limiting Boulder City to just 6 points in last week’s state quarterfinals. More important: The Bulldogs have home-field advantage in Mesquite. On paper, Churchill County is superior. But the Greenwave are a different beast away from Fallon and their raucous student section. Virgin Valley pulls the upset. Virgin Valley 21, Churchill County 20

Moapa Valley at Elko

The consensus in Northern Nevada? This Class 3A semifinal will be an Elko rout. They’re wrong. Moapa Valley matches up well with Elko and has faced a tougher schedule. The Pirates are battle-tested, well-coached and playoff regulars at this stage. But that brutal road trip from Southern Nevada to Elko? That’s what dooms them. Elko 23, Moapa Valley 19