By Dave Belcher

Moapa Valley Progress

Jake Rebman takes to the air to block a pass attempted by Silverado quarterback Matt Eastman in the Homecoming Game on Friday night. Photo courtesy of mvphotos.net.

The Moapa Valley High School football team battled its way to another homecoming victory on Friday, October 21. They are now undefeated at Jeff Keel field and stadium this season.

The win against the Silverado Skyhawk’s 27-0 was close until the second half when the Pirates wore the Skyhawk’s down. Taylor Schwartz picked off a tipped pass and rumbled to the Silverado 25. Moapa got it to the 2 yard line. Then on 4th and goal from the two Mortensen took the ball left and scored. His brother Dillion nailed the point-after and the Pirates held a 7-0 led.

Silverado picked off a well-read middle screen and returned it a few yards to the 27. On 4-1 at the 19 the Pirates held and ended the only real chance Silverado would have all night to score.

The next few series for both teams were not very successful and the Pirates took a 7-0 lead into the locker room.

After the half time festivities Silverado tried to surprise the Pirates with an onside kick. But instead, they were tricked themselves when Kasen Hughes caught the ball in stride and ran to the Silverado nine yard line. Mortensen then took it the rest of the way in and scored with 11:42 on the clock giving Moapa a 14-0 lead.

Silverado’s next series ended when Dakota Gordon picked a pass and gave the Pirates the ball back at the fifty. On Silverado’s next series the snap went over the head of the punter when he caught up to it, he kicked it out of the back of the end zone for what should have been a safety. But the officials blew the whistle and called it a touchdown. The difference was 16-0 and a punt to the Pirates or 20-0 and the ball.

This set the Skyhawk bench into a frenzy as they tried to convince the officials they were wrong and it should be a safety. It didn’t work. The extra point was missed and the Pirates were up 20.

All night long the Pirates capitalized on the misfortunes and errors of Silverado. The Pirates had only 99 yards rushing as the much bigger Skyhawks slowed down the Pirate attack.

Watters passed for 82 yards giving the Pirates 181 total yards on offense. Silverado on the other hand rushed for 155 and passed for 4 yards for a total of 159 total offense.

The final scoring drive for the Pirates met a tired Skyhawk defense. The evidence was watching as the offense would walk up to the line. The score had Dakota Gordon streaking past the Skyhawk’s for a twenty yard touchdown. The extra point was good and the final score was 27-0. The Pirates were moving again when the time ran out.

Moapa’s schedule this season was one of the toughest ever for the Pirates and hopefully it will help them in the tough situations to come. We will see if it will help in the post season.

The Pirates will travel to Boulder City on Thursday night were they will play a team who has nothing to lose and will do anything to win in order for the season to continue. A Boulder City win would mean a three way tie for first and we go to the tie breaker. A Moapa win gives the Pirates the home field advantage through the playoffs.

In that case a win in the playoffs against Virgin Valley would send an invitation to the #2 seed from the north which is Lowry right now. A win there means white uniforms and a trip to Reno for the State Championships.