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March 29, 2024 12:34 am
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Pirates Squeak By In Division Win Vs. Bulldogs

MVHS 13
VVHS 12

By Dave Belcher

Moapa Valley Progress

The Pirates bring down Virgin Valley quarterback Humberto Urias in the Division game played on Saturday at Jeff Keel Stadium. Photo courtesy of mvphotos.net.

How long does it take to win a football game? For Moapa Valley it took exactly three minutes.

Another chapter was written on Saturday afternoon when the Pirates and Bulldogs butted heads again for the second time in a month. This time it was the division playoffs and Moapa narrowly won it 13-12.

Virgin Valley came ready and willing to do whatever it would take to win. The Bulldogs proved that in the first play of the game. Trips left and twins right then a pass thrown to a receiver who had beaten his opponent by a step. The ball was in perfect position but was dropped. So close, yet so far. And that proved to be the theme of the game for the Bulldogs.

Hats off to the effort the Bulldogs gave in the game. Virgin Valley may well be the best team not to play for a state championship this season.

For 45 minutes the Bulldogs were the better team. Virgin Valley ran 53 plays on the ground and rushed for 208 yards. That yardage is more than the last three Moapa / Virgin Valley games combined for the Dawgs.

The Dawgs got a touchdown on their first drive of the game. A 13 yard run from quarterback Urias.

The rest of the game saw nothing until the final minutes. With 5:57 remaining in the game and Virgin Valley still up 6-0 the Bulldogs fumbled the football. Moapa recovered and took over at the Dawgs 45.

Later in the drive, Moapa had gotten to a 4th and 3 when the Pirates jumped early and were flagged. The ball was moved back five yards to make it 4th and 8 from the 33. Watters threw a pass which was incomplete as a groan came up from the Pirate bleachers.

MVHS Senior Brandon Johnson finds himself wide open in Saturday’s division matchup with Virgin Valley. Johnson went on to score a game-tying touchdown in the closing minutes of regulation play sending the game into overtime. Photo by Angelina Glaubitz.

But just as doubt began to creep into the minds of the Moapa fans, the miracle happened! Virgin Valley coughed up the ball again when they fumbled into the hands of Kasen Hughes. It was the Pirate’s ball with 2:22 on the clock at the Bulldog 38.

On Moapa’s first play, a 36 yard fade down the right sideline to Brandon Johnson who caught it. Johnson then took it the remaining two yards into the end zone for the Moapa touchdown and a tie score. Now the Moapa side was up a screaming in joy and relief. The Virgin Valley side stood in utter amazement, speechless at what had just happened.

Dillon Mortensen trotted on to attempt the most important extra point of his life thus far. The snap, the hold, no! it was bobbled and on the ground rolling away. The score was tied 6-6 with 2:15 left to play.

Anxiety was building as the kickoff sailed to the two yard line and was returned to the 20, first down Bulldogs.

It was then that the unthinkable happened again: another Virgin Valley fumble! This time it was Taylor Schwartz who recovered the ball raising it high in the air as to say “look what I found!”

With 2:05 on the clock Moapa tried to move the ball and got nothing. It was 4th and 14 with about 1:35 on the clock when Coach Brent Lewis called upon his kicker.

Dillon Mortensen came out again to attempt a 49 yard field goal attempt. He had kicked a 60 yarder in practice. But here was the problem; the Pirates were struggling to block the 7, 8 and 9 men who were blitzing almost every play. When 5 offensive line men and 1 tight end are expected to block 8, the odds are against you. Now the numbers were changed as Virgin Valley was sending 11 to Moapa’s 9.

The result was a nightmare.The kick was blocked and Wyatt Williams picked the ball up and headed for the Moapa end zone. The race was on and it was moving as fast as Wyatt’s legs would take him. He was caught at the 4 yard line and pushed out. He dove for the end zone landing in it but was marked out at the four.

Virgin Valley had the ball at the Moapa 4 yard line with 1:10 on the clock, all the time in the world to win it.

The Bulldogs made it to the one on the first play. Then came a setback, delay of game was called and the Dawgs were pushed back to the 6 yard line. Urias was sacked at the 22 and on came the Bulldog kicker. He had to be quick because the Bulldogs were trying to beat the clock which was winding down. No one had time out lefts.

The attempt was made with 10 seconds remaining but was blocked as three Pirates made it through the line. Moapa recovered the ball and had the ball with 2.8 seconds on the clock. There was no temptation for a Hail Mary. Watters knelt on the ball and regulation was over with the score tied at 6-6.

The Pirates won the coin toss to start the overtime and deferred to the second possession. It was Virgin Valley’s ball from the ten with four cracks at a touchdown.

It only took two. Urias scored from the four. The two point attempt was stopped at the one yard line.

It was now Moapa’s turn from the ten. On the second play, Mortensen saw something he had seen very little of the whole game, the sunlight was shining through from the goal line. In he went.

Now, it was Dillon’s turn to kick for the extra point. The snap, the kick: it was high and true!

The officials looked at each other then raised their hands in unison signaling it was good and a Pirate win.

What a game! Conner Mortensen had 30 yards rushing and a touchdown for the game.

Brandon Johnson had three receptions on the game. It is his game tying touchdown that everyone will remember.

The Pirates had only 101 yards in total offense for the game.

Virgin Valley finishes the season on a four game losing streak and finish with a record of 5-5. Two of those loses came at the hands of the Pirates.

Moapa is now 9-2 and will play in the semifinal match on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. against Lowry. The winner advances to the state championship game on November 19 in Reno.

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