By Dave Belcher
Moapa Valley Progress
This week only four football games were played in the Nevada 3A. All of them were elimination games as the first round and state quarter finals began.
In Lowry, the Buckaroos were coming off a two game losing streak: the first to Truckee; and the second to, perhaps the hottest team in the 3A, Fallon.
This time Lowry was going to be playing Spring Creek. It was a rematch which had been close in the first game which had ended 13-7. This game turned out to be a blow out at 34-14, Lowry.
Jace Billingsley rushed for 234 yards on 17 carries and had three touchdowns Friday night in the win. He had scores of 33, 29 and 80 yards. Johnny Hernandez had 53 yards on 11 carries and the other two touch downs for the Buckaroos.
Spring Creek’s quarterback Travis Springs was 7 for 9 in the air. But, it was the running of Shawn Sandoval who ran for 378 yards on six carries that was shocking. He had no touchdowns though.
Springs added 105 yards on 5 carries for the Spartans who saw their season end with a record of 5-5.
Lowry continues the run for their first state championship as they travel down south to Moapa Valley for the second year in a row. Last season the Buckaroos played Moapa and were beaten 35-20 in the semifinals. It was a game which many thought would be a warm up for the inevitable state championship matchup between Lowry and Truckee. But the game was tied at the half then Lowry took a 20 to 1 led after the 3rd quarter. Moapa scored 21 points in the fourth to send the Buckaroos packing and a Moapa Truckee state final.
Billingsley had 101 yards rushing in that game including a 98 yard interception for a score.
Lowry now has revenge on its mind. Not only did it lose the football semi-final to Moapa last year, but the state basketball title to Moapa as well in the Orleans arena in Las Vegas. This should be a great match up.
In Elko the 3rd seeded Indians were hoping to get another chance at Truckee next week and avenge their loss earlier in the season. But 4th seeded Fallon ended that dream with a 10-7 victory. Fallon will now take Elko’s place in the semifinal game in Truckee.
Fallon is the hottest team in the 3A north besides Truckee who has a 34 game win streak which they mention at every opportunity. I would too.
Shawntrell Hubbard rushed for 109 yards and had Fallon’s lone touchdown a 67 yard run. Francisco Lievanos was held to his lowest rushing game of the season of 74 yards and had Elko’s only touchdown. The game winning field goal was a 25 yarder in the second quarter.
In Truckee the Wolverines started slowly, then blew out Fernley, to set up the semifinal game against Fallon. Truckee recovered a blocked punt in the end zone to give the Wolverines the lead in the second quarter.
Their next score came on a 15 yard pass from Shaffer to Holmer also in the second quarter as Truckee took a 14 zero lead into the locker room at half.
Truckee blew it open in the third when Auldridge returned a punt for a touchdown then followed that with a 15 yard pass reception from Shaffer for a touchdown. Truckee’s final score came on a one yard run by Petite.
Fernley scored twice to finish the season when quarter back Ken Bradley ran for a 15 yard touchdown then connected on a four yard pass to end his high school career.
Truckee rushed for 115 yards and had 90 yards in the air for a total of 205 total yards offence. Tyler Curtis led the rushing attack with 76 yards on 8 attempts.
Truckee will host the Green wave from Fallon next Saturday in the semifinals with the winner taking on the winner of Moapa and Lowry also on Saturday.
The winners will play for the championship at Damonte Ranch High School in Reno the following Saturday at 6 p.m. to end the state triple header.
Fallon has a real chance to beat the Wolverines. They will need to hope that experience won’t work against them in the biggest game for Fallon in a long long time.
Truckee is currently rank 1st while the Pirates slipped past Lowry for the number 2 ranking in the 3A. Lowry is 3rd.
