Pick 6: Sam Adams’ 1-game lead continues going into final week of regular season

Time keeps on ticking, ticking … or so the line from a song goes.

It does seem to be ticking away for yours truly. I still trail by a game going into the final week of the regular season.

As we have the first three seasons, we’ll take Pick 6 out as long as we have enough local teams playing.

Shadle Park vs. North Central, Thursday, Albi, 4:45

Lee: Provided that Mt. Spokane beats winless Rogers, the Shadle/NC winner advances to play another game at the Mid-Columbia Conference runner-up on Tuesday. That’s likely to be Southridge. And Southridge’s opponent should be Shadle. The Highlanders have a stout defense and enough offense. NC will have difficulty. Shadle 23-0.

Adams: If you thought the Seahawks got a tough luck tie in surrendering six points in Arizona, try talking to Shadle. The Highlanders have allowed a total of just 31 points over their last four games – an average of 7.75 points – and have gone just 1-3 in that span. Now they take on a NC, a squad that just snapped a six-game losing skid by beating Rogers. Shadle’s defense should put together another strong effort, but this time in a Highlander victory. Shadle, 24-12.

Ferris vs. Lewis and Clark, Friday, Albi, 6

Lee: OK, so both teams have a crossover game remaining. It wouldn’t matter if they had no games remaining and they were winless. This game matters. The South Hill matters. Bragging rights matter. Both teams have good defenses, but Ferris has more offense. The Saxons have been less hot and cold than LC. Ferris 24-21.

Adams: After running the gauntlet against the GSL’s top two teams (20-3 loss vs. Central Valley, 47-14 loss vs. Gonzaga Prep) in back-to-back weeks, the Tigers take on their South Hill arch rivals. Ferris has had a rough go of it as well, with a blowout loss to Mead that was masked by a 21-point Saxon fourth quarter against the Panthers’ backups. Luckily for both teams, you can throw the records out the window in a rivalry game like this, with the last two games in the rivalry being decided by a field goal or less. Friday should be no different. Ferris, 7-6.

West Valley at Clarkston, Friday, 7

Lee: The winner gets a postseason berth, the loser gets a crossover game as a consolation prize. The Bantams appear to be playing their best at the right time. And the Eagles are playing well, too. But home field means a lot in this matchup. Clarkston 27-24.

Adams: Both programs have a common loss against Pullman, the lone unbeaten team in the GNL. The Eagles played the Greyhounds much closer (36-33), but the Bantams have home-field advantage. But I expect Hunter Wright to shine at quarterback for WV after putting together a four-touchdown effort last week against rival EV. WV, 28-21.

Almira/Coulee-Hartline at Odessa-Harrington, Friday, 7

Lee: We know because these teams play eight man points are going to be scored. O-H has been scoring points in a ridiculous manner. The Titans have averaged 76 points per game. The defending state champs graduated do-everything quarterback Dallas Isaak, but the Warriors are defending champs until knocked off. And for a ninth straight year they have an Isaak playing. Maguire Isaak, a sophomore, is at QB. And for a ninth straight year the Warriors are headed to the postseason. ACH plays defense. And it will take defense to slow down the Titans. ACH 36-32.

Adams: The schedule makers nailed this one, with the Northeast 1B South title being decided on the final Friday of the regular season in a battle of unbeatens. ACH and O-H have split the series since 2012 as the rivalry comes to Coulee City. But it would take the Coulee Dam spilling over to slow down an O-H team that has topped 89 points on three occasions so far this season. I’ll go with the Titans in yet another high-scoring eight-man affair. O-H, 60-55.

Borah at Coeur d’Alene, Friday, 7

Lee: The Vikings have arrived where they usually find themselves this time of the year. And they’ve done so against one of the most challenging schedules ever. CdA will serve up a large helping of quarterback Colson Yankoff. And Borah will get twisted all in knots trying to catch Yankoff. CdA 42-13.

Adams: The Vikings have been somewhat off their game in recent weeks, surrendering 27 points in back-to-back games against Lake City and Post Falls, and 55 points at Lewiston the week before that. Now it’s time for the Viks to hit the reset button to begin the postseason, and I believe they’ll do just that in their 5A playoff opener. CdA, 38-27.

Central Valley at Gonzaga Prep, Friday, 7

Lee: I picked the defending state champs to win the league title and I’m not changing my mind at this point. CV has played brilliantly at times and struggled in games it should have won much more easily. In my opinion, G-Prep is better offensively than last year and they’ve been more than adequate on defense. CV is solid on defense but has been up and down on offense. G-Prep 27-14.

Adams: Many predicted that the GSL 4A crown would be decided in the final week of the season, and here we are. The Bears and Bullpups both have unblemished conference marks, though CV has the superior overall record. Both teams were tested in the nonconference season, with CV getting blasted by CdA and G-Prep losing to perennial powers Eastside Catholic and Skyline. This game will come down to who sets the tone early. G-Prep has traditionally put the foot on the gas early while CV has struggled out of the gate for much of this season. I expect the Pups to build an early lead and hang on for dear life to protect it. G-Prep, 35-28.