High School Football Picks: Second week of playoffs

Members of the Pinecrest Academy Sloan Canyon football team are pictured during the Las Vegas Sun's high school football media day at the Red Rock Resort on July 22, 2025. They include, from left, Vili Tupou, Cade Hoshino and Pita Takafua. Photo by: Christopher DeVargas

Last week’s opening round of Southern Nevada’s high school football playoffs delivered upset after upset.

Clark stunned Silverado in Class 4A. Centennial shocked top-seeded Shadow Ridge in Class 5A. And three-win Faith Lutheran knocked off Desert Oasis — though the Crusaders would tell you they saw it coming all along.

This column? Not so much. We limped to a 6-4 record thanks to those surprises, bringing our season mark to 170-50.

Here are this week’s playoff selections.

Faith Lutheran at Las Vegas

One rule that never fails: The team with the best player wins the game. Las Vegas has him at quarterback. Las Vegas 29, Faith Lutheran 23

Mater East at Sloan Canyon

Some think charter schools should compete in their own leagues. If they did, this would be the state championship game. Sloan Canyon 36, Mater East 33

Clark vs. Slam Nevada

Clark lost the first meeting in overtime. That won’t happen again. The Chargers are the better team, and they know it. Clark 26, Slam 24

Centennial at Green Valley

Centennial coach DJ Campbell hasn’t lost a playoff game in three seasons. The streak continues. Centennial 30, Green Valley 19

Boulder City at Virgin Valley

Virgin Valley delivers a performance worthy being the a No. 1 seed. Virgin Valley 42, Boulder City 12

Pahrump Valley at Moapa Valley

We’ve already seen this movie. Moapa Valley 31, Pahrump Valley 16