By Dave Belcher
Moapa Valley Progress
On a night with winds expected around 30 mph and rain. Moapa and Truckee fans were bundled up and strapped in for what was to be a wild ride.
Truckee and the high powered offense and solid concrete wall defense gained respect for a Moapa team not as deep in experienced players as the previous four years. It was the depth of Truckee and the lack of it for Moapa that ended up making the difference.
Truckee’s Ben Bolton, possibly the best quarterback in the state in any league, went 6-10 for 98 yards in passing against the Pirates in the title game. But Moapa’s defense was pressuring him all game, racked up four sacks on him and pressured him out of the pocket more than that.
But it was the running plays that made the difference.
Moapa took the opening kick off and went three and out. Truckee did the same.
Moapa’s next possession ended with a Weiss interception to Rodriguez giving Truckee the ball near mid-field. Their possession ended after back to back sacks. One by Zach Staley, the other by Zach Waite.
Another three and out by Moapa, then at third and one from the Pirate 39. Truckee threw a screen pass for a 32 yard gain to the seven yard line. Nevin then took it in for his first of three touchdowns on the night. Truckee missed the extra point and had the lead 6-0 with 2:31 to go in the first quarter.
The Pirates’ came right back. Hayden Cooper caught a pass from Weiss who had scrambled stepping out of tackles and threw to an abandoned Cooper behind the Truckee defense. Cooper who had come back to catch the pass turned up field and was run down at the 30 by Truckee defenders recovering from Weiss’ scrambling.
Zach Waite took it two yards up the middle. Weiss threw to Casen Lewis for 12 yards to the 15. Waite took the pitch for five more to the 10. Weiss was sacked back at the 22 then kept the ball and charged up the middle to the five yard line. Haydn Waite got it to the three, then the one, yard line.
A miscue in the Pirate backfield saw Weiss go one way for the hand off and Waite the other way for a three yard loss.
Moapa scored when Cooper went high into the air to snag Weiss’ pass on the right side. Mortensen’s kick was good and Moapa lead 7-6 with 8:53 to go in the half.
Truckee got the ball back after a Moapa punt with 4:50 in the half. Nevin went up the middle for 12 yards to the Pirate 43. Bolton then hit Nevin for forty yards to the three. Nelson finished the five play drive with the score.
Truckee took the lead for good: 13-7 with 2:43 to play in the half. Truckee got the ball again when Riley Solomon fumbled at the Pirate 31. Truckee punted and the half ended.
For the second year in a row Pirate Motion did their routine without music. These girls are so awesome. ArborView is set up for wireless and didn’t have an Ipod hook up.
Moapa got a break on the kick off. At the second half when Nelson fumbled the kick off and the Pirates recovered the ball at the Truckee 35.
The Pirates passed the ball to the eight yard line. A Terrill catch and a Weiss keeper got them there. Next was an incomplete pass and a Weiss keep that went no where.
Coach Lewis finally decided to go for a field goal to try and get something from the drive. The kick went up but was blocked. It was picked up and returned to the Truckee 35 yard line.
Nielson ran for six yards. Then Christiansen picked up the first at the 48. Bolton threw an incomplete pass then was stopped at the line of scrimmage, under pressure and he fumbled. The Pirates recovered.
The Pirates moved the ball to the 39 before Mortensen’s punt stuck Truckee at the seven.
After Nevin picked up a couple Bolton scrambled around the endzone.
Several Pirates had a shot at him in the endzone. Bolton escaped and made it to the seven.
When the little black pellets settled. Zach Staley lay on the ground holding his knee. The flag which was thrown represented a chop block against Truckee. This was the second time. One in each game.
This year and last year a chop block has taken a Pirate lineman out of the game with a blown knee. It happened to Colby Powell, the lineman of the year.Each time it has played a factor.
Now not only is Waite’s football career done, but also his wrestling. He has battled with his knee for sometime. Last year he underwent surgery on it. And all this year he worked hard to keep playing.
Weiss sacked Bolton again then Truckee punted.
On Moapa’s next play from the Truckee 41 Weiss threw his second interception. Rodriguez took it to the Moapa eleven. Christian took it to the four. Nevin finished with his third score of the evening. Both runs right up the middle.
The extra point was good and Truckee lead 20-7 with 1:50 in the third.
Nevin busted one up the middle for 32 yards. Then another one for the score from 45 yards out.
This seemed to be the Pirates weakness: depth on the line. with Zach gone there was no experience to back him.
The extra point was good. Truckee 27-7.
The Pirates last possession ended with Ackerman picking Weiss’ pass and sealing the title.
And so again a California school takes a Nevada state championship. It is the second this year. Truckee volleyball repeated also. This is Truckee’s tenth championship in Nevada football.
Bolton finished a far cry from his average. Nevin killed the Pirates rushing for 142 yards on 13 carries and three touchdowns.
Weiss was sacked seven times. He was 14 for 30 passing with 153 yards one touchdown and three interceptions.
The Pirates rushed for 26 yards for the game. The running game that was needed never materialized.
