Finally some good football.
After three-straight weeks of absolute blowouts, Reno and McQueen played a thriller (the Huskies won 46-43). Damonte Ranch also lost a close contest at Galena.
Beyond that, there’s not much to be said of the final week of the regular season.
The playoffs start Friday so for the first time this year, we expand the power rankings to eight teams—including all who advanced to the postseason.
Here we go.
To view how the Power Rankings have adjusted over the course of the season, click here.
1. Reed Raiders (10-0)
A perfect regular season is in the bag. The Raiders are certainly the favorite to win the DI North title again—it would be their fifth-straight. One for the thumb. Reed’s postseason run doesn’t exactly start in difficult fashion, opening with one-win Douglas at home on Friday.
Next game: Friday vs. Douglas (Sierra No. 4)
Last week: 1
2. Carson Senators (8-1)
It wasn’t easy, but the Senators pushed their winning streak to eight last week at Douglas after leading just 14-7 at one point in the third quarter.
Next game: Friday vs. Spanish Springs (High Desert League No. 4)
Last week: 2
3. Reno Huskies (8-2)
The Huskies allowed a season-high 43 points last week to McQueen, which was led by backup quarterback Zach Ball. Fortunately for Reno, its offense was up to the challenge, putting 46 on the board. The win secured a home playoff game and assured the Huskies the soonest they could see the Raiders would in the DI North title game. Although, Carson likely looms in the semifinals.
Next game: Friday vs. Damonte Ranch (Sierra No. 3)
Last week: 3
4. Galena Grizzlies (6-3)
If you haven’t believed in Galena all year, it’s time now. The Grizzlies held an explosive Mustangs team to just 19 points last week in a 34-19 home win. Damonte entered scoring 60+ in two-straight weeks. Galena earned the Sierra League No. 2 seed with the win and will likely get Reed in the semifinals if it can get past McQueen.
Next game: Friday vs. McQueen (High Desert League No. 3)
Last week: 4
5. McQueen Lancers (5-4)
Defense was an issue for a second-straight week last Thursday. The Lancers allowed 109 total points in back-to-back losses to Reed and Reno to conclude the regular season. But unlike in the loss to Reed, the offense had an answer against Reno. That offense will be tested Friday night on the road against a good Galena defense.
Next game: Friday at Galena (Sierra League No. 2)
Last week: 5
6. Damonte Ranch (4-6)
The Mustangs have looked good against bad teams this year and struggled to get over the hump against everyone else. They’ve only beaten one playoff team this year, Spanish Springs, in the season opener.
Next game: Friday at Reno (High Desert League No. 2)
7. Spanish Springs (3-6)
Like Damonte Ranch, the Cougs have struggled against good teams. The three teams Spanish Springs has beaten this year went a combined 4-23. None made the playoffs. It doesn’t get any easier at Carson on Friday night but the Cougars have played the Sierra League champs tough the last two times out, including a road win in the state’s capital last year.
Next game: Friday at Carson (Sierra League No. 1)
8. Douglas Tigers (1-8)
Do the Tigers have a chance at Reed on Friday night? Sure. They have a chance to be home before curfew with running clock in the second half.
Next game: Friday at Reed (High Desert League No. 1)
DI North Standings*
High Desert League
Reed 10-0, 5-0
Reno 8-2, 4-1
McQueen 5-4, 3-2
Spanish Springs 3-6, 2-3
North Valleys 2-7, 1-4
Hug 1-8, 0-5
Sierra League
Carson 8-1, 4-0
Galena 6-3, 3-1
Damonte Ranch 4-6, 2-3
Douglas 1-8, 1-3
Bishop Manogue 1-8, 0-4
*-final standings
Week 10 Scores
Reno 46, McQueen 43
Galena 34, Damonte Ranch 19
North Valleys 34, Hug 0
Carson 42, Douglas 13
Reed 56, Spanish Springs 17
Week 9 Scores
Spanish Springs 34, Hug 0
Galena 41, Bishop Manogue 0
Reed 63, McQueen 28
Damonte Ranch 68, Douglas 21
Reno 60, North Valleys 14
Week 8 Scores
Reed 65, Hug 14
McQueen 56, North Valleys 14
Carson 51, Galena 21
Damonte Ranch 63, Bishop Manogue 28
Reno 44, Spanish Springs 6
Week 7 Scores
Reed 64, North Valleys 7
McQueen 55, Spanish Springs 31
Reno 24, Hug 0
Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.) 49, Damonte Ranch 19
Galena 56, Douglas 17
Carson 44, Bishop Manogue 13
Week 6 Scores
Reed 27, Reno 11
Carson 17, Damonte Ranch 14
Douglas 21, Bishop Manogue 19
Spanish Springs 47, North Valleys 20
McQueen 49, Hug 14
Week 5 Scores
Galena 28, McQueen 17
West Valley (Calif.) 24, Spanish Springs 21
Reed 67, Douglas 20
Reno 59, Bishop Manogue 7
Damonte Ranch 52, North Valleys 6
Carson 58, Hug 0
Week 4 Scores
Reed 54, Oak Ridge (Calif.) 42
Reno 14, Damonte Ranch 13
Carson 28, Spanish Springs 6
Galena 53, North Valleys 7
McQueen 30, Bishop Manogue 6
Hug 40, Douglas 35
Week 3 Scores
Reed 42, Galena 19
Placer (Calif.) 41, Damonte Ranch 26
Carson 45, North Valleys 7
Bishop Manogue 21, Hug 14
Reno 46, Douglas 7
Week 2 Scores
Reed 58, Damonte Ranch 39
Carson 59, McQueen 14
Reno 9, Galena 0
North Valleys 35, Douglas 27
Spanish Springs 20, Bishop Manogue 0
Week 1 Scores
Reed 44, Carson 27
Damonte Ranch 42, Spanish Springs 7
Bishop Kelley (Idaho) 28, Bishop Manogue 0
Galena 14, Lassen (Calif.) 2
Elk Grove (Calif.) 38, Reno 7
Fernley 34, Hug 12
McQueen 33, Douglas 18
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