And then there were four.
After last Friday’s first round of the playoffs, just four Northern Nevada teams remain in the picture: Reed, Carson, Reno and Galena.
All four were the higher seeds and celebrated playoff victories on their home field.
Reed easily disposed of Douglas and Reno pulled away from Damonte Ranch but the outcome of the Galena-McQueen and Spanish Springs-Carson quarterfinals remained in question until late.
On Friday, Galena travels to Reed and Reno heads down to Carson with the winners playing next week for the DI North title. Game on.
To view how the Power Rankings have adjusted over the course of the season, click here.
1. Reed Raiders (11-0)
That was graphic.
Reed led one-win Douglas 56-0 at the half of Friday’s quarterfinal.
Coach Ernie Howren has rolled out some good teams in the stretch of four-straight regional titles but this one may be the most talented, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.
Next game: Friday vs. Galena (Sierra League No. 2)
Last week: 1
2. Carson Senators (9-1)
For the second-straight week, it wasn’t pretty but it worked.
Carson led Spanish Springs just 21-20 in the third quarter last Friday before pulling away late. The Senators gave up a handful of big plays in the passing game so it’ll be interesting to see if Reno, a run-first team, tries to exploit Carson’s secondary.
Next game: Friday vs. Reno (High Desert League No. 2)
Last week: 2
3. Reno Huskies (9-2)
Reno scored 24 second-quarter points to get past Damonte last week but faces a tougher defensive challenge on Friday night against a stingy Carson defense.
Although, the Senators fell back to the pack last week, allowing 34 points to Spanish Springs.
The sexy matchup is going to be Reno’s defense against Carson’s high-powered offense.
Next game: Friday at Carson (Sierra League No. 2)
Last week: 3
4. Galena Grizzlies (7-3)
The Grizzlies showed signs of nerves last week, falling in an early 21-0 hole at home to McQueen before starting a furious rally in a 39-29 win.
Galena does not have nearly that much room for error on Friday against a Reed team that makes scoring points look far too easy.
Next game: Friday at Reed (High Desert League No. 1)
Last week: 4
5. McQueen Lancers (5-5)
The Lancers looked really good early but couldn’t hang on last week’s quarterfinal loss at Galena. Defense was the issue in the final two games of the regular season and it ended up being McQueen’s undoing.
Next game: Eliminated
Last week: 5
6. Damonte Ranch (4-7)
Damonte had seniors everywhere on its roster but wasn’t able to piece it together this year. It was a frustrating season for the Mustangs.
Next game: Eliminated
7. Spanish Springs (3-7)
The Cougars played their best game of the year in last week’s loss at Carson.
They just didn’t have enough size up front to slow the Senators’ run game and get off the field.
The 3-7 record doesn’t exactly jump off the page but a playoff berth, a strong finish to the season and a returning quarterback (Korbin Marcum), who figures to be one of the better signal callers in the North next year, has the Cougs in a good spot going into the offseason.
Next game: Eliminated
8. Douglas Tigers (1-9)
69-14. Yeesh.
Next game: Eliminated
Week 11 Scores (Quarterfinals)
Reed 69, Douglas 14
Galena 39, McQueen 29
Carson 49, Spanish Springs 34
Reno 41, Damonte Ranch 20
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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