By Dave Belcher
Moapa Valley
Have you ever had the feeling when you walked away from a project you wanted to complete, but just could not get it finished? That’s how it felt to the Pirates and fans after the first meeting with Virgin Valley ended 7-6 last week. Like biting into a chocolate covered marshmallow and finding a lizard. It’s filling and serves the purpose, but boy is it hard to keep it down. The lizard was used to fuel the weeks practice and the start of the game.
The anticipation lasting for nine days was well worth the wait. Virgin Valley came dress in green pasting signs on fences, bleachers. A sign appearing on the visitors bathroom claiming it to be the Dawg House was my personal favorite. Green, white and black balloons were tied to the bleachers. When the Bulldogs came out, a roar from Virgin Valley was heard above the music which was playing classic rock.
The Moapa side was radiant with blue and gold balloons tied to the home bleachers. Signs hung on the fences. Kids had MV painted on their cheeks. Blue, gold and black shirts dotted the stands.
A firm magnificent field layed out before the eyes of fans on both sides of the stadium (I had to put that in).
The Pirates came storming out of the tunnel as the band played “Championship”. The Pirate fans came to their feet clapping in unison to the beat as their beloved sons, brothers, nephews, friends, team circling around the 25 yard line doing a last warmup before battle.
Moapa then took the kick off and started their first drive from their 29 yard line. Weiss dropped back and hit Shane Terrell down the Virgin Valley sideline. Terrell took it to the end zone for Moapa’s first score of the day and we were off and running. The pat kick was good and with 11:41 left in the first quarter the Pirates lead 7-0.
But the Bulldogs came right back with a score of their own. On fourth and six from the Moapa 31 yard line Urias hit Cohen for the touchdown. After a missed kick the score stood at 7-6 Moapa with 6:49 to go in the first quarter.
Virgin Valley clearly had the momentum and scored again this time Bowler scampered in from the five yard line with 3:25 to go in the first quarter.
The two point conversion was good and the Dawgs were up 14-7.
Moapa then turned the ball over on downs at the Dawg 49. A Virgin Valley hold made it second and 25 and the first quarter ended.
On the first play in the second quarter Urias and threw a interception to Casen Lewis at the Dawg 39.
The Pirates next score came with 3:11 in the half when Zack Waite scored from 19 yards out. Point after was no good and Virgin still lead 14-13.
With 1:22 to go in the half. Virgin Valley was in punt formation when the snap sailed over the head of Cohen the punter into the end zone. Instead of taking the safety he ran out of the end zone then out of bounds at the one yard line. Zack Waite punched it in again and the Pirates lead at half 19-14 after the two point try was intercepted.
The Pirates scored in the third after Bowler was stripped and Hayden Cooper ran the ball back to the Dawg 15. Zack Waite took the ball to the house again from the 15. The point after was good and so was the Pirate lead 26-14 after three quarters.
Weiss picked off a pass from Urias to start the fourth. And, after a personal foul on the Bulldogs, Waite took it in again from 14 yards for the Pirates finaltouch down. The point after was good. Moapa lead 33-14.
Virgin Valley didn’t give up they finished the game with a two yard touchdown making the final score a 33-21 victory and semi final birth to Moapa.
The Pirates will host Lowry at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 13.
