By Dave Belcher

Moapa Valley Progress

In Lowry the northern game of the year was played and the road to the State championship on the northern side of the bracket will travel through Truckee again, as it has the past three years.

Jace Billingsley rushed for 161 yards and 2 touchdowns (the first of the game and the last one) in the effort as Truckee beat the Buckaroos 27-12 to defend their northern 3A title.

With the loss Lowry clinches 2nd place and the trip south in the semi-finals if they win the first round game of the playoffs.

Truckee ran behind a strong offensive line and a solid “red wall” defense that dominated the second half as discipline and tradition out lasted the one man show from Winnemucca.

Lowry got to the one yard line after an interception in the first quarter but couldn’t punch it in with two quarter back sneaks. Billingsley in the second quarter brought the home crowd to their feet with a 32 yard run and the first score of the night in the first three minutes of the second quarter.

From that point on it was all Truckee as they scored 27 unanswered points to rout the Buckaroos 27-12. Jake Pettit scored all 4 of Truckee’s touchdowns and had 115 yards rushing to lead the Wolverines to their fourth consecutive northern 3A title and 32nd win in a row.

In Elko the Indians pounded the one-win Sparks Railroaders 54-27 last Friday night. Francisco Lievanos led Elko with 208 yards and four touchdowns in the rout.

Elko travels over the hill to Spring Creek Friday night. Spring Creek has won the last six meetings in this rivalry.

Sparks will finish the season against Wooster at home in the “who cares” game.

In Fallon the Green Wave slammed into the Wooster Colts destroying them without a trace 51-25. Fallon quarterback Morgan Dirickson led Fallon with 71 yards rushing and 199 yards passing with three touchdowns (two running and one throwing). Fallon hosts Lowry Friday night.

In Dayton the Spring Creek Spartans shut out the Dust Devils 17-0 behind the running of Nik Cdebaca and his two 56 yard touchdowns. Cdebaca led the team in rushing with 139 yards on 8 carries.

Dayton’s Tyler Firestone rushed for 150 yards in the loss. Dayton travels to Fernley in fifth place. A Dayton win secures them a playoff spot.

In South Tahoe Jacob Stowell ran for 238 yards and quarterback John Cefalu passed for 143 yards as the two led the team who had 450 total yards in offence and still lost to Fernley 41-28.

Fernley quarterback Ken Bradley had 84 yards rushing and 328 yards passing with 5 touchdowns (3 running and 2 passing). Fernley had 490 yards total offence.

South Tahoe will end their season at Truckee and will head into Basketball season.

Fernley hosts Dayton.

At Clark the Boulder City Eagles blasted the Chargers 33-7. It was the Eagles’ final game before their season finale with Moapa to determine their fate on Thursday night in Boulder city.

Washburn had 155 yards and a touchdown rushing while James Morgan had 64 yards and two touchdowns for the Eagles. Boulder had 248 yards rushing and 1 completion for 31 yards in the air. Boulder’s defense held the Chargers 230 yards rushing and 5 yards passing.

So here are the standings in northern Nevada going into the final game of the season for each team. Truckee is 7-0 and has first place wrapped up as they play South Tahoe and will collect win #33.

With a record of 6-1 in league and 7-1 overall, Lowry is in second place and has it wrapped up. They travel to Fallon 4-3 who is in 4th in a tough game that I wouldn’t be surprised to see Fallon win because of what it means to the Wave in the playoffs.

Elko, 5-2, is in third place and is playing fifth place team and rival Spring Creek 4-3 Friday. Elko will retain third and a home first round game with the win. With a loss Elko will drop to 4th in a tie with Spring Creek.

Head to head tie break gives 3rd to Spring Creek. The rest is a mess.

What’s clear is South Tahoe and Sparks are out and Truckee and Lowry are first and second. For the rest, we will wait and see.