MVHS 43
Desert Pines 30
By DAVE BELCHER
Moapa Valley Progress
Moapa Valley came away last Saturday night with a hard fought 43-30 win at Desert Pines.
It was the end of a long week where the flood created many hours and days of hard work for the community of Moapa Valley. The Pirates came out tired, sluggish and appeared out of energy in the first half.
Desert Pines and Moapa Valley are, in fact, the favorites to win the Sunrise this year. This game may have been for the league title as long as both teams win out.
So when the flood washed away I-15 on Monday night the Clark County School District tried to wash out the game. All sports in Moapa Valley were postponed for the week because the North Shore Road was considered to be too dangerous to travel for school buses.
Someone must have forgotten that a bus travels four times a day from Moapa Valley to Echo Bay to pick up and return students for school daily. Echo Bay is roughly half way up the North Shore Road from Moapa Valley to Las Vegas.
At any rate, the game was even cancelled for a day. So if both teams were tied at the end of the regular season in first place, a coin flip would determine the top seed from the Sunrise for the playoffs. And this year it would mean home field advantage.
But with the opening of I-15 on Friday evening, the game was scheduled for Saturday night and the matchup went on.
Quarterback Zach Hymas lead the Pirates Saturday night in a strong performance. When asked what the key to the game was he stated, “Team work.”
Hymas started the scoring early in the second quarter as the Pirates moved the ball inside the twenty of Desert Pines at the end of the first quarter. He finished the touchdown drive with a 2 yard run up the middle to give the Pirates a 6-0 led at 11:17 in the second quarter. Derick Cope kicked the point-after for a 7-0 Moapa Valley lead.
Desert Pines, a team with a tremendous amount of speed, scored in their next series. But unable to run much, the Jaguars went to the air where Jon McCoy caught a 47 yard touchdown pass from Marckell Grayson. After Grayson’s run for a two point conversion Desert Pines held a 8-7 lead with 8:16 to play.
On the issuing kick-off the Pirates fumbled. And just under two minutes later Trevor Nofoa ran 5 yards for a touchdown. McCoy ran in the 2 point conversion. The Jaguars lead 16-7 with 6:27 to play in the half.
Moapa Valley would score again when Hymas found Hubert for an 18 yard touchdown. The extra point missed and the Pirates trailed 13-16 headed into the half.
“Not having coach Keel there tonight made the calling of the defense a team effort as all the coaches pitched in,” said Head Coach Brent Lewis.
Coach Keel was in Cedar City being recognized as a member of SUU’s top 100 football players in their 100 year history. The postponement of the game forced the conflict which was a very difficult decision for him to make.
But the Pirates came out strong of the half.
“We drew up a few diagrams at half time then came out and executed them,” said Lewis. “We were able to establish the run which put RJ into single coverage where he made some plays. The line did a great job tonight.”
The Line had its best game of the year as they opened the holes for the Pirates to rush for 163 yards.
Kaleb Bodily had 100 of them on 21 carries. Andrew Huerta carried the ball 8 times for 44 yards and Hymas carried it 5 times for 14 yards and two touchdowns. Hymas was part of all the Pirate touchdowns.
Passing Hymas was 13-17 for 187 yards and 4 touchdowns. Hubert caught 5 balls for 86 yards and 3 touchdowns. Cole Mulcock caught 5 balls for 61 yards and a touchdown.
All together the Pirates had 350 yards offense while Desert Pines had 263; 204 of that were passing. Grayson was 10-21 with 3 touchdowns and one interception. Isaiah Morris ran 13 times for 51 yards.
The second half Moapa Valley started the scoring as Hymas finished the first drive with a 3 yard touchdown run. Cope’s extra point was good as Moapa took a 20-16 lead.
Desert Pines took the ball at their own 42. A deep pass took the ball to the Pirate 9. After two runs lost yards Grayson hit Andre Watts for a 13 yard touchdown with 3:03 remaining in the third quarter giving the Jaguars a 22-20 lead.
Hymas connected with Hubert again this time for 48 yards as he was found all alone. Hymas ran for the 2 point conversion as Moapa Valley took a 28-22 lead.
Hymas found Hubert again on a fade route from 10 yards out, then Hubert caught the 2 point conversion from Hymas for a 36-22 lead. Mulcock caught the final Pirate touchdown: a 14 yarder from Hymas. Cope made the kick and Moapa Valley lead 43-22 with 3:22 to play.
Desert Pines would score again as the Pirates were in transition replacing players. Watts caught a 55 yard pass for a touchdown from Grayson, Nofoa caught a pass from Grayson for the two point conversion and the final score 43-30.
Moapa Valley will host Sunrise Mountain this week while Desert Pines travel to Chaparral this Friday night.
