The prep football regular season tends to pass by quickly. This year was no different.
The season kicked off 10 weeks ago, we blinked, and now the 4A North regional tournament starts on Friday.
Galena missing the postseason is the biggest surprise thus far. The Grizzlies entered with all kinds of hype and were thought of as a regional title contender before the season unrattled for several reasons. Douglas took advantage, jumping all the way up to the No. 2 seed and will host its postseason opener against Spanish Springs, the High Desert League No. 3 seed.
The Cougars handled the Tigers in their previous matchup this year, 51-27, but could be without starting quarterback Korbin Marcum. Both teams are trending in different directions. Douglas has won four of its last six. Spanish Springs lost its last two to Reno and Reed, by an aggregate score of 99-33.
The other No. 2-No. 3 matchup pins Reno, the HDL runner up, against Carson.
It will be the Senators’ second trip to Reno this year. A healthy Carson team fell the Huskies, 34-17, in week 3.
Reed will attempt to win its 10th straight, at home, against SL No. 4 seed, Bishop Manogue and Damonte Ranch will also try to extend its winning streak to double digits, at home, against McQueen.
To view how the rankings have progressed this season, click here.
1. Reed Raiders (9-1)
November is the Raiders’ favorite time of the season. And fortunately for the Blue and Gold, the calendar just flipped from October.
The offense and defense are both humming and a sixth straight regional title is certainly within the realm of possibility. Who can give the Raiders a scare, or even knock them from their perch?
Last week: 1
2. Damonte Ranch Mustangs (9-1)
The Mustangs have emerged as the biggest threat to ending Reed’s run of regional titles.
Led by sophomore quarterback Cade McNamara, Damonte boasts the best passing attack in Northern Nevada.
It appears Mother Nature can only slow the Mustangs. And she’s been known to show up this time of year.
Last week: 2
3. Reno Huskies (9-1)
Last week wasn’t a display of Reno dominance. The Huskies found themselves in a 14-14 tie at McQueen in the second quarter.
They did what good teams are supposed to and pulled away down the stretch. Reno runs the ball and plays defense. That style of play typically carries over well in the postseason.
Last week: 3
4. Douglas Tigers (5-4)
Where did this team come from?
Few outside the Tigers’ locker room likely would have prognosticated that Douglas would enter the postseason as the No. 4 team in this poll and open at home.
But here the Tigers are, winners in four of the last six. When it’s win-or-go-home time, sometimes it’s better to be the team with the most momentum, rather than the team with the most talent.
Last week: NR
5. Carson Senators (5-4)
The loss of senior quarterback Jace Keema has clearly hampered the offense.
It almost feels strange to see the Senators with just a 5-4 record heading into the postseason. That said, coach Blair Roman knows a thing or two about advancing in the regional tournament.
Last week: 4
Outside looking in: Spanish Springs Cougars
4A North quarterfinals schedule
SL No. 4 Bishop Manogue at HDL No. 1 Reed 7 p.m.
HDL No. 3 Spanish Springs at SL No. 2 Douglas 7 p.m.
SL No. 3 Carson at HDL No. 2 Reno 7 p.m.
HDL No. 4 McQueen at SL No. 1 Damonte Ranch 7 p.m.
Final 4A North Standings
High Desert League
Reed 9-1, 5-0
Reno 9-1, 4-1
Spanish Springs 5-4, 3-2
McQueen 3-6, 2-3
Hug 1-7, 1-4
North Valleys 0-9, 0-5
Sierra League
Damonte Ranch 9-1, 4-0
Douglas 5-4, 3-1
Carson 5-4, 2-2
Bishop Manogue 4-5, 1-3
Galena 2-7, 0-4
Week 10 Scores
Douglas 31, Carson 17
Reno 34, McQueen 21
Reed 49, Spanish Springs 14
Damonte Ranch 56, Galena 7
Hug 41, North Valleys 0
Week 9 Scores
Douglas 37, Galena 23
Reno 50, Spanish Springs 19
Damonte Ranch 42, Bishop Manogue 0
McQueen 55, North Valleys 13
Reed 49, Hug 20
Week 8 Scores
Damonte Ranch 34, Carson 14
Spanish Springs 33, Hug 0
Bishop Manogue 34, Galena 8
Reno 63, North Valleys 15
Reed 68, McQueen 21
Week 7 Scores
Reed 28, Reno 14
Spanish Springs 38, North Valleys 35
McQueen 49, Hug 21
Damonte Ranch 47, Douglas 42
Carson 33, Bishop Manogue 6
Week 6 Scores
Spanish Springs 28, McQueen 15
Douglas 32, Bishop Manogue 28
Reno 27, Hug 18
Damonte Ranch 54, Shasta (Redding, Calif.) 24
Carson 40, Galena 13
Reed 58, North Valleys 0
Week 5 Results
Spanish Springs 36, Galena 22
Reno 49, Douglas 24
Reed 62, Bishop Manogue 27
Damonte Ranch 56, McQueen 17
Carson 56, North Valleys 0
Week 4 Results
Reed 55, Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) 34
Reno 28, Galena 7
Damonte Ranch 33, Spanish Springs 19
Bishop Manogue 18, Hug 6
Carson 45, McQueen 17
Douglas 48, North Valleys 0
Week 3 Results
Reed 47, Carson 41
Reno 34, Placer (Auburn, Calif.) 24
Bishop Manogue 35, Henley (Klamath Falls, Ore.) 14
Spanish Springs 51, Douglas 27
Galena 49, North Valleys 10
Damonte Ranch 63, Hug 13
Week 2 Results
Reno 34, Carson 17
Damonte Ranch 26, Edison (Fresno, Calif.) 10
Galena 13, Hug 12
Foothill (Palo Cedro, Calif.) 46, Spanish Springs 33
Reed 53, Douglas 16
McQueen 23, Bishop Manogue 6
Week 1 Results
Clayton Valley Charter (Concord, Calif.) 35, Reed 21
Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.) 49, Damonte Ranch 14
Douglas 20, McQueen 14 (OT)
Bishop Manogue 28, North Valleys 14
Reno 34, Stagg (Stockton, Calif.) 7
Mesa (Mesa, Ariz.) 20, Galena 15
Carson 49, Desert Mountain (Scottsdale, Ariz.) 42
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