By Dave Belcher
Moapa Valley Progress
If I told you the Pirates had a total of 323 yards offense, that they were inside the 10 yard line six times including ending the game on the Bulldog three, that they held Virgin Valley quarterback Humberto Urias to 13 yards passing on 3 for 14 and two interceptions, that the Bulldogs rushed for 91 yards (most of that on one drive) for a grand total of 104 yards total offense, what would you say the score was? How about 7-6 Moapa?
Those were the facts in the MVHS Varsity Football matchup against Virgin Valley High School on Thursday, October 28 at the Dawg Pound.
The Pirates score came with only four seconds to go in the first half when Kelan Weiss barely crossed the goal line from the one yard line. The big difference in the game? Mortensen’s extra point.
Virgin Valley’s touchdown came four seconds into the fourth quarter. Dee Bowler went up the middle from two yards out. The extra points were no good, the play ended at the ten a loss of seven.
Moapa’s first drive started at the 22 and ended with a punt at the Bulldogs’ 48.
On the Dawgs first series they ran five plays and punted. Moapa then went three and out with a punt at the Moapa 10.
The Bulldog’s next drive started at the Pirate 45. A two yard loss by Urias and two incomplete passes then a Bulldog punt.
Moapa started at their 14 and moved the ball to the Bulldog 8. On second and goal a bad pitch and Virgin Valley recovered the ball. Virgin Valley then went three plays ending with another punt. Moapa started at the Dawg 45. The Pirates made it to the 10 yard line with 2:54 in the half. Then at 4th and 5 in came Mortensen for a field goal attempt which he missed.
Virgin Valley took the ball at their 20. The Dawgs went 3 and out again and Moapa started from the Bulldog 45 yard line again.
Virgin Valley always kicked to the side line during their punts keeping it away from Lewis and Solomon. Weiss threw four straight completions setting up 1-10 from the Virgin Valley 11 yard line. Zack Waite took it to the 4 yard line with :22 seconds left. Then Weiss to the one yard line with 15 seconds. With four seconds, Weiss went into the end zone. Mortensen’s extra point and that wrapped up the Pirates’ only score.
The first four possessions of the 2nd half was an interception by Moapa’s Parker Chappell, a Moapa fumbled snap. A fumble on a Virgin Valley counter reverse. Then with fourth and goal from the two yard line another missed field goal by Moapa’s Mortensen.
The Bulldogs then started their scoring drive from their 20. A Bowler sweep for 16 yards. A Bowler loss of 4 yards. Urias straight ahead for 4 yards. A Urias draw for twelve to the 48. Jensen for three to the Moapa 49.
Bowler for 15 then again for 16 to the Pirate 18. Urias for three yards then for 13 yards to the 2 and the end of the 3rd quarter.
That’s where Bowler finished the 80 yard drive with his score. The Bulldogs then went for two. Virgin Valley came up 10 yards short on the 2 point conversion. Yep, that’s a seven yard loss.
Moapa’s next possession started at the 40. It ended after five running plays when Weiss threw an interception to Urias at the Virgin Valley 18 yard line.
The Bulldogs went three and out again punting to the Virgin Valley 36. The Pirates took the ball to the one yard line on 4th and goal from the 2. The Ball went over on downs.
The Bulldogs got the ball to their 11 yard line for a first down, then a sack by Lane Stringham. A sack by Staley and Waite. An incomplete pass and another sack gave the Pirates the ball on downs at the Dawg 1 yard line with 40 seconds remaining.
With chants of touchdown from the Moapa crowd, Moapa lined up in victory formation and knealed on the ball twice and it was over.
Wow!
The rematch will be held on Saturday at 1:00 pm at Keel field. Lets decorate the town Blue and Gold.
