MVHS 40
Elko 7
By DAVE BELCHER
Moapa Valley Progress
Back in 1984 and 1985 Moapa Valley and Elko played each other for the state championship both years at Moapa Valley high school. The first one Moapa Valley beat the Indians and the second one the Indians beat the Pirates 13-16. Moapa Valley’s quarterback was Brent Lewis in the second game. That was also the last time the Indians won the state football championship.
It was a long way to travel for Elko. Last week the team travelled to Henderson, practiced at Del Sol on Friday. stayed the night, then travelled to Moapa Valley on Saturday. They didn’t have charter buses, but just two yellow limos. The travel wasn’t going to hurt them. But the game would. They would return home with a season ending 40-7 loss.
It was a beautiful day for a football game. Elko kicked off to the Pirates to start the semi-final game. The kick was short, fielded by Kaleb Bodily who was taken down at the Moapa Valley 44. Andrew Huerta took a handoff for 2 yards followed by a 5 yards short pass to Cole Mulcock and a 2 yard gain by Bodily to the Elko 47 creating a 4th and 1 yard for a first down. The ball was given to
Bodily again where he found a hole taking the ball 12 yards and setting the tone for the Pirates of aggressiveness.
Bodily carried the ball for five more yards before Elko sacked Hymas. The Elko defense put a lot of pressure on the senior quarter back throughout the game.
Third and 11 yards before Hymas found Huerta for 3 yards hit Hubert for a 19 yard gain on the second fourth down play of the series.
On 2nd and 12, Hymas found Jay Mortensen at the 6 yard line. Bodily then scored from 5 yards out for the first touchdown of the game as Moapa Valley used seven minutes to score. Derek Cope kicked the extra point to give the Pirates a 7-0 lead.
From there, Moapa Valley would never trail in the game. On Elko’s first series the Pirate defense allowed just one yard forcing the Indians to punt on 4th and 9 from their own 33 yard line.
Moapa started once again at the Moapa Valley 44 yard line. A pitch to Mulcock for 6 yards then a pass to Huerta for 12 yards gave the Pirates a 1st and 10 at the Elko 40. Hymas hit Mulcock twice who ran to the 27 yard line for a 13 yard gain and 1st down on the first catch then to the 8 yard line on the second catch for 1st and goal from the 8 yard line. Moapa Valley ended the first quarter at the 6 yard line.
The second play in the second quarter was 4 and goal from the 6 yard line. Hubert was spread to the right with single coverage on him. A quick slant and pass found Hubert with a touchdown grab as he caught the ball high in the air in the back of the end zone for the Pirates second touchdown of the game. Cope kicked the extra point as Moapa Valley took a 14-0 lead with 11:18 to play in the first half.
Elko received the kick off and was stopped at their own 29 yard line. On their fourth play of the game they threw an interception to Hubert. Hubert returned the ball to the Pirate 45.
Moapa Valley would punt three plays later after Hymas was sacked for the second time in the game forcing a 4th and 16.
Elko would gain no yards in the next series as the Pirate defense stopped two Jason Wilson dives and Nate Klekas was over thrown on 3rd and 10.
Moapa Valley took over after the punt rolled to a stop at the Pirate 35. Mulcock took another pitch and ran 26 yards to the Elko 39. But Elko turned up the defense and stopped Simmons for a 3 yard loss then sacked Hymas for a third time back at the Moapa Valley 48 for a 3 and 23. Moapa Valley would punt after Hymas’ pass fell incomplete.
The punt rolled to the Elko 11 where the Indians would start. Elko got the first down after a quarterback keeper for 9 yards and Wilson’s run of 5 yards to the Elko 25. Elko lost 6 yards in the backfield when Puentes was tackled for a loss. The Indians then completed their first pass of the game when Smiley was found for a 12 yard gain leaving a 4th and 4 at the Elko 31 still forcing a punt.
After the Pirates went 3 and out, Wilson returned the Pirate punt to the Moapa Valley 30 yard line with a 1:36 remaining in the half. Elko‘s first play was a pass tipped away by Hubert. The second was picked off by Cope at the Pirate 9 yard line.
“I was content to let the clock run out until they called a time out,” said MVHS Coach Brent Lewis. Hymas found Hubert in the middle of the field at around the 50 yard line. Hubert almost out ran his opponent to the end zone falling five yards short with 10 seconds remaining. Hymas found Hubert on a slant with 3 seconds left for the touchdown leaving Elko in shock. Moapa Valley held a 21-0 lead at half time.
Hymas had thrown for 170 yards passing in the first half and 283 total yards.
The Pirate defense was unbelievable as they allowed just 21 yards for Elko.
To start the second half Elko received the kick off and went three plays and a punt.
Moapa Valley’s first play saw Mulcock catch a pass. Then as he was fighting for more yards, he fumbled the ball turning it over to Elko.
Elko ran eight plays in their next series running a wild cat formation and giving the ball to a lineman. On the eighth play the pass fell incomplete turning the ball over on downs at the Pirate 11 yard line.
Moapa Valley then went on an 11 play 89 yard drive, facing third down only once. It ended when Hymas found Mortensen for the touchdown with 1:19 remaining in the 3rd quarter. Cope’s extra point was wide giving the Pirates a comfortable 27-0 lead.
Elko finally got on the score board on the first play after the kick off. Conklin faked a deep pass then found Bullock open for the short pass. Bullock outran the Pirate defense to the end zone, 64 yards. That play was for more yardage than all the other plays
Elko had previously run in the game. The extra point was good, 27-7.
The onside kick was recovered by Simmons at the Moapa Valley 49 yard line. Simmons then ran 13 yards to the Elko 38. In two plays Bodily ran 15 yards to the 23when the third quarter ended.
Bodily then made one of his best runs of the season. Breaking several tackles he carried three Indians into the end zone for the touchdown. Cope’s point after was good giving the Pirates a 34-7 lead.
Elko was done. The first play after the kick off lost a yard as Puentes was sacked. The second run resulted in a fumble which Moapa Valley recovered at the Elko 46.
Six plays later Mulcock scored with a sweep to the left from 14 yards out. Cope’s kick was no good as Moapa Valley scored for the final time with 7:03 to play.
Wilson returned the kickoff to the Moapa Valley 15 yard line. But after a couple of plays, on 4th and 15 from the 20 yard line Derick Rose sacked Puentes turning the ball over on downs.
The Moapa Valley defense controlled the entire game stopping Elko’s high-powered offense over and over. Elko had 89 total yards, 64 of which came on the pass to Bullock.
But the game still wasn’t over for the Pirates. There was still one play which brought Moapa Valley fans to their feet. With the game in hand and on the Pirate next possession, quarterback Nate Cox found senior Kadyn Griffiths. Griffiths, who has the heart of a lion and was born with only one full arm, had split wide right running a deep post pattern. He was wide open. Cox threw the ball to Griffiths who turned and caught the pass one-handed. Griffiths then turned up field and was tackled a couple yards later at the Elko 30 yard line. The home crowd was on its feet cheering for Griffiths. It was a moment to never be forgotten!
Moapa Valley gained a couple more first downs then went to victory formation to run the time out.
Moapa Valley’s defense was so solid they allowed just 24 plays for Elko. Elko ran the ball 21 times for 12 rushing. Jacob Conklin led Elko with 10 yards rushing. Elko’s season leading rusher Jason Wilson finished with 9 yards on 8 carries. Quarterback Alex Puentes finished with 7 carries for -13 yards. Puentes was 1 of 6 passing for 12 yards and 2 interceptions.
Moapa Valley was dominant on offense, finishing with 458 yards total offense: 43 carries for 173 yards running the ball. Bodily ran 17 times for 93 yards and 2 touchdowns. Mulcock had 63 yards on 6 carries. Hymas was 16 of 21 for 243 yards and 3 touchdowns. Cox was 1 of 1 for 42 yards. RJ Hubert had 5 receptions for 138 yards and 2 touchdowns. Mulcock had 6 receptions for 76 yards and Kadyn Griffiths had 1 reception for 42 yards. Moapa Valley completed 17 of 22 passes for 285 yards.
Derek Cope and Hubert each had an interception.
Moapa Valley will play Desert Pines in the all south matchup for the State championship on Saturday at Bishop Gorman starting at 3 pm.
