By DAVE BELCHER
Moapa Valley Progress
MVHS Homecoming 2014 was very successful for the Pirate football program. All three teams shut out their Boulder City rivals. The freshman won 40-0, the JV won 29-0 and the Varsity won 27-0.
The Boulder City varsity team has now lost its last three of four games. The one win came against Sunrise Mountain in overtime. The Eagles are tied for fourth place and the fourth seed in the Sunrise.
Moapa Valley, on the other hand is alone in first place. But the Pirates must win this week at Chaparral to preserve the top seed and field advantage in the playoffs.
Zach Hymas is still healing from an ankle injury. But Nate Cox filled the shoes well as he lead the Pirates to the victory with four touchdown passes, two to Cole Mulcock and two to RJ Hubert.
“Nate played very strong for us in a huge game,” said Head Coach Brent Lewis after the game. “He showed he could get the job done if called upon.”
“We knew Boulder City was going to come and attack our strengths and they did a good job slowing down our running game,” Lewis added. “Nate stepped in and completed passes. When you have Mulcock and Hubert on the outsides it’s a huge advantage.”
Boulder City started with the ball but stopped themselves with two penalties and were forced to punt.
Moapa Valley took the ball on their own 40 yard line and marched down the field ending in the end zone with a 17 yard touchdown pass from Cox to Hubert. The point-after missed and Moapa Valley lead 6-0.
After being held to only eight yards, the Eagles punted from their 28 yard line. That started the Pirates’ second touchdown drive at the Moapa Valley 45 yard line. Cox hit Huerta who took it to the Eagle 17. Cox then hit Mulcock for the second touchdown. Cope made the point after and Moapa Valley lead 13-0.
Moapa Valley made it inside the twenty again with 17 seconds remaining in the first half. Cox’s pass was tipped by an Eagle at the last second and fell to the ground. A late hit was called as the Eagle defender drilled the receiver after the ball hit the ground. The penalty was enforced on the kick off to start the second half.
Boulder kicked from their 25 yard line due to the penalty. They surprised the Pirates with an onside kick up the middle and recovered it at their own 39 yard line. Boulder City got a first down then on 4th and 8 tried a reverse gaining another first down.
But a holding call took the ball back. They faked to punt again as Carmel kept the ball, getting a first down. A flag was thrown on the tackle as the Pirates were called on a helmet to helmet hit. Fifteen more yards were added giving the Eagles 1 and 10 at the Pirates 11 yard line.
Moapa Valley defense stepped up, sacking Carmel twice: the first by Tanner James on 3rd and 14 and the second by Garrett May on 4th and 23. The Eagles turned the ball over on downs at the 24 yard line.
Moapa Valley took the ball to the 23 where, on 4th and 5, Cox found Hubert in the end zone for a touchdown. Cope’s point-after was good and Moapa Valley had a 20-0 lead with 3:09 left in the third quarter.
The Pirates held Boulder City to 3 plays and a punt. Then they scored their final touchdown 1:27 later with one second on the clock. Cox hit Mulcock for the final touchdown. Cope’s point-after was good and Moapa Valley took the 27-0 win.
Boulder City finished with just 107 yards total offense as the Pirate defense dominated the eagles throughout the game. Quarter back Trento Carmel threw 8 passes and completed just 3 of them for 16 yards. Logan Branscum had 12 carries for 35 yards to lead the Eagles.
Moapa Valley had 386 total yards on offense with Cox completing 14 of 20 for 250 yards and four touchdowns. Andrew Huerta ran for 65 yards on 4 carries, Mulcock ran three times for 30 yards.
The Eagles will finish the regular season hosting Virgin Valley. With a Boulder City win this week they will have the fourth seed in the Sunrise. Virgin Valley’s season is finished after the Boulder City game win or lose.
The Pirates play Chaparral this Friday night at 7 PM at Chaparral High School in Las Vegas.
“Chaparral has some very good athletes and speed, maybe more so than Desert Pines,” said Lewis. “That game is for the championship. If we win, we win it outright. If we lose it comes down to points and the tie breaker as three teams will be tied.”
Those three teams would be Moapa Valley, Desert Pines and Chaparral.
