| MVHS | 59 |
| Faith Lutheran | 26 |
By Dave Belcher
Moapa Valley Progress
“Coach, they’re for real!” was the comment of one Faith Lutheran coach to another as they took to the field following half time at Saturday’s game in the Jeff Keel Stadium.
He was referring to the Pirate football team as they had taken a 47-13 lead into the half.
Of course, it was only four years ago that Faith Lutheran regularly came for their yearly thrashing at the hands of the Pirates while playing in the 3A southern league. Now they have bolted from the league in search for greener artificial turf and a bigger stadium to bolster their student population and compete with the 4A. I wonder what they will say next season at Faith when many of these same Pirates will return and play the Crusaders again in the new Division I A region.
Moapa wasted no time with blowing out Faith on Saturday. The first three possessions the Pirates scored three touchdowns. Conner Mortenson scored from one yard then his second from 25 yards in the second possession with five minutes to go in the first quarter. On Moapa’s third possession quarterback Dakota Watters hit Austin Prisbrey for a 20 yard touchdown. Then with the second Watters two point conversion of the night the Pirates led 23-0. And it was only the first quarter.
Even after Faith finally scored on a two yard plunge from Jasonik to start the second quarter, the Faith defense still couldn’t stop the Pirates. It was McConnell’s turn as he finished the fourth Pirate drive with a 25 yard run plowing into the end zone.
The Pirates held, forcing a Crusader punt. McConnell took the punt and returned it 61 yards for his second touchdown.
Moapa held again and, on the next series, Dakota Gordon set up the next Pirate score with a long run to the one yard line. Watters then finished off the drive making the score 41-6 with 1:55 to go in the half.
On the first play from their own twenty, Degeorge connected with Mays on an 80 yard catch and run touchdown and a 41-13 Pirate lead.
But the Pirates weren’t finished yet. With 1:36 left in the half Waters hit Terrill with a 33 yard pass setting up Mortensen’s 17 yard touchdown run and a 47-13 half time led.
The second half started with Degeorge throwing a pick to McConnell.
Then something happened that had not happened all night. The Faith defense held and Moapa had to punt.
Faith then took the ball inside the Pirate five before a pick; and Moapa took the ball from there.
In the first play McConnell took a hand-off and looked like he was going down after two or three yards. But he broke through the backers and found himself alone heading 95 yards for his fourth score of the night and a Pirate 53-13 lead.
With 3:15 left in the third Watters hit Gordon with a final Moapa touchdown from 8 yards out. The extra point was no good and the clock started never to stop again for the night as Moapa led 59-13.
Faith would score twice more on the Moapa seconds in the fourth. May had a 2 yard run and so did Pearson as the final score was 59-26.
Mortenson almost took the final kickoff all the way back but was stopped at the Faith 12 yard line.
Pirate rushing: McConnell 5 carries 162 yards 4 touchdowns. Mortensen 15 carries 118 yards 2 touchdowns. Gordon 6 carries 51 yards 1 touchdown. Hughes 3 carries 16 yards. Terrill 1 carry 1 yard. Watters 5 carries minus 15 yards. Moapa total rushing 334.
Faith rushing; Mays 5-16. Degeorge 3-3. Jasonek 5-1. Bishel 2 for minus 4. Faith total 16.
Pirate passing; Watters 10-13 152 yards 1 touchdown. Dillon Mortensen 0-1 0 yards.
Faith passing; Degeorge 14-27 289 yards, 1 touchdown, 3 interceptions.
Pirate receiving: Terrill 6-96. Mortensen 1-20. Prisbrey 1-20. Johnson 1-11. McConnell 1-5.
