Game of the Week: Silverado hosts Barstow with DSL title implications on the line

The 2024 football season is just about over as we enter the home stretch of the 11-week-long marathon.

Last week’s showdown between Oak Hills and Apple Valley just about determined the Mojave River League title race.

This week’s matchup between Barstow and Silverado will clinch the winner at least a share of the Desert Sky League title.

The Aztecs (6-1, 2-0 DSL) are in prime position for their first league title since 2015, as CalPreps.com projects a 27-17 victory.

The Aztecs enter with an 11.5 CalPreps.com rating, while Silverado (5-3, 2-0 DSL) is at -2.2, and on a five-game winning streak after starting the season winless.

Barstow figures to be well-rested, coming off a bye week. Silverado is coming off a 40-7 victory over Adelanto.

Are you ready for a bit of a brain juggler? The Hawks are certainly capable of upsetting Barstow, a team that they’ve lost to just once, which came last season, since 2015.

A potential Silverado victory on Thursday, along with a Victor Valley victory over Adelanto, sets up a possible league title clash next week between the teams. Victor Valley winning that matchup, along with a Barstow victory over Granite Hills, would result in the first three-way share of the league title since 2008 (Silverado, Barstow and Burroughs) to further convolute things.

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Silverado beating Barstow and then Victor Valley would mean an outright title next week.

Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. at Hawks Stadium. Here’s a look at the rest of the local action in Week 9, starting with three other Thursday night games.

Oak Hills (8-0, 3-0 MRL) at Sultana (2-6, 1-2 MRL), 7:30 p.m.

CalPreps.com rating: Oak Hills 48; Sultana -8.8

CalPreps.com projection: Oak Hills 49-0

What happened last week: Oak Hills beat Apple Valley 30-14; Sultana lost 30-14 to Serrano.

Game notes: The Bulldogs can capture at least a share of the Mojave River League title with a victory over the Sultans. It'd be the fourth straight league title for Oak Hills and the seventh in program history.

Adelanto (0-8, 0-3 DSL) at Victor Valley (6-1, 1-1 DSL), 7 p.m.

CalPreps.com rating: Adelanto -27.5; Victor Valley -1.9

CalPreps.com projection: Victor Valley 38-7

What happened last week: Adelanto lost 40-7 to Silverado; Victor Valley beat Granite Hills 23-21.

Game notes: The Saints have beaten the Jackrabbits in consecutive seasons. Last year’s meeting came down to the wire with Adelanto pulling off a 34-27 victory. With the Jackrabbits projected to win, they could set themselves up in a spot to play for either second place, or possibly even a share of the league title, next week.

Burroughs (0-8, 0-3 MRL) at Apple Valley (4-3, 2-1 MRL), 7:30 p.m.

CalPreps.com rating: Apple Valley 27.7; Burroughs -26.6

CalPreps.com projection: Apple Valley 62-0

What happened last week: Apple Valley lost 30-14 to Oak Hills; Burroughs lost 37-3 to Hesperia.

Game notes: The Sun Devils can clinch a guaranteed playoff berth with a victory over the Burros. An Apple Valley victory, coupled with Serrano beating Hesperia would set up a battle for second place in the MRL next week to wrap up the season.

Friday night games

Serrano (5-2, 2-1 MRL) at Hesperia (3-5, 1-2 MRL), 7 p.m.

CalPreps.com rating: Serrano 3.4; Hesperia -2.5

CalPreps.com projection: Serrano 28-21

What happened last week: Serrano beat Sultana 30-14; Hesperia beat Burroughs 37-3.

Game notes: The Scorpions beat the Diamondbacks 28-7 last season, which snapped a streak of 14 consecutive losses to them. Hesperia ran for 282 yards on 49 carries in the victory. Serrano can clinch a guaranteed playoff berth with a victory over Hesperia.

Trinity Classical Academy (8-0) at Silver Valley (2-6, 1-2 CL), 7 p.m.

CalPreps.com rating: Silver Valley -68.8; Trinity Classical Academy -18.1

CalPreps.com projection: Trinity Classical Academy 56-3

What happened last week: Silver Valley lost 50-6 to Riverside Prep; Trinity Classical Academy beat Temecula Prep 40-7.

Lucerne Valley (3-4, 1-1 AL) at Hesperia Christian (2-4, 1-0 AL), 7 p.m.

CalPreps.com rating: Lucerne Valley -34.5; Hesperia Christian -1.8

What happened last week: Lucerne Valley lost 36-22 to ACE; Hesperia Christian shut out PAL Academy 50-0.

Saturday afternoon

Riverside Prep (1-7, 1-2 CL) at the Webb Schools (1-6), 1 p.m.

CalPreps.com rating: Riverside Prep -57.8; Webb -69.4

CalPreps.com projection: Riverside Prep 27-13

What happened last week: Riverside Prep beat Silver Valley 50-6; Webb lost 43-12 to Santa Rosa Academy.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Game of the Week: Silverado hosts Barstow with DSL title implications on the line