The 4A North regional tournament has played true to form.
The higher seeds are 6-0, leaving the two No. 1 seeds, Reed and Damonte Ranch, to play for the regional title on Friday night at McQueen.
Reed has left no doubt this postseason, dismantling Bishop Manogue and Douglas by a combined score of 116-25. Damonte Ranch took care of McQueen, 48-14, and grinded out a 21-6 over Reno in the semifinals last week.
Both teams are riding 11-game winning streaks since dropping their season openers to tough out-of-state competition. Many will justifiably point out both team’s offensive prowess.
Reed is averaging an obnoxious 50.5 points per game this season. Damonte Ranch isn’t far behind at 44.7 points a contest.
What maybe goes overlooked with the way both squads are lighting up scoreboards, is how dominant the High Desert and Sierra League champions are playing on the other side of the ball.
The Raiders are surrendering less than 14 points per game in their last seven. The Mustangs have not allowed more than 14 points in their last five, giving up 8.2 points a go over that span. Then again, nether defense has lined up against an offense as explosive as the one they will face on Friday.
Reed is playing for its sixth straight regional title, and its seventh in eight years. The Mustangs find themselves one of the last two teams standing for the second time in program history. The first time? In 2012, when they lost 50-9 – to the Raiders.
Don’t expect a similar outcome on Friday night. The victor may finish with 50 again, but it’s hard to imagine the loser mustering just one touchdown.
To view how the rankings have progressed this season, click here.
1. Reed Raiders (11-1)
The Raiders haven’t had to work for a win in well over a month, when they battled out a 28-14 home win over Reno. They’ll certainly be in a fight on Friday. How will they handle it?
If there’s a team ready for the big moment, it’s Reed. The spotlight won’t be too bright.
Last week: 1
2. Damonte Ranch Mustangs (11-1)
Damonte is a program that realized its potential this year. The Mustangs were a preseason favorite last year and never got it going.
This year has been a different story.
Sophomore quarterback Cade McNamara will need to play the best game of his young career, in the biggest game of his young career.
Last week: 2
3. Reno Huskies (10-2)
The Huskies fell into an early hole at Damonte in the semifinals and never could recover.
Reno was talented enough to win a regional title, but it is a run-heavy team built to play with a lead. Playing with a deficit was never in the team’s makeup, as evidenced.
Last week: 3
4. Douglas Tigers (6-4)
Douglas was the surprise of the season.
The Tigers were picked by the Sierra League coaches to finish fourth, only to finish second, host a quarterfinal playoff game, and advance to the semifinals.
Damonte’s Shawn Dupris will likely be the coach of the year, but an awfully strong case could be made for Ernie Monfiletto.
Last week: 4
5. Carson Senators (5-5)
It was just one of “those” years for the Senators.
After an impressive win over Desert Mountain (Scottsdale, Ariz.) in the opener, and having a legitimate shot to knock off Reed in week three, the season never materialized.
An injury to starting quarterback Jace Keema ending up being the dagger to Carson’s hopes.
Last week: 5
Week 13 Schedule
Reed vs Damonte Ranch (at McQueen) 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 12 Scores (regional semifinals)
Damonte Ranch 21, Reno 6
Reed 47, Douglas 7
Week 11 Scores (regional quarterfinals)
Douglas 24, Spanish Springs 6
Reno 21, Carson 10
Damonte Ranch 48, McQueen 14
Reed 69, Bishop Manogue 18
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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