By DAVE BELCHER
Moapa Valley Progress
Last November, after what head Coach Brent Lewis called the greatest game in Moapa Valley history, the Moapa Valley High School Pirates came back from being twenty points behind in the fourth quarter to win their 16th state championship in history. That score, 42-36, will be forever burned into the minds of both Moapa Valley and Desert Pines fanatics forever.
Now with that game a memory, a new season is about to start. With it a huge target sits on the backs of the Pirates. Embarking on the 99th year in Moapa Valley High School’s history, number seventeen is possible.
Last year Moapa Valley’s high powered offense gained 5011 yards total: 2146 of them on the ground with 2865 yards through the air.
But Moapa Valley lost 16 players to graduation last year.
Gone is quarterback Zach Hymas who was responsible for 2159 yards passing 26 touchdowns and just 4 inceptions on the year. He had a 60% completion rate on 214 attempts with 129 completions. Hymas in his career as a starter lost only one game, a semi-final loss to Fallon in 2013.
Also gone is Kaleb Bodily a 1212 yard rusher who had 170 carries for 20 touchdowns and another 250 yards receiving for 2 touchdowns, one which came in the title game to bring the Pirates back to within 2 points. That play set up RJ Hubert’s two point conversion for the tie to send the championship game into overtime.
Gone is Andrew Huerta, second in rushing with 230 yards and at linebacker with 104 tackles on the season.
Gone is Cole Mulcock with his 62 receptions and 1149 yards with 12 touchdown catches.
But it’s the great programs which continue to turn out teams that compete at a high level working for their goal as state champion.
This year, the Pirates rebound with a season packed with quality opponents to challenge them for a repeat in November.
RJ Hubert is back. Considered by many as the best athlete in the Division IA. Hubert finished his junior season with 964 yards receiving catching 14 touchdown passes. His speed makes him a threat every time he touches the ball.
The Pirate’s offensive back field may have lost Bodily; but with Sterling Simmons, Tristan Deal and Chace Traasdal the Pirates have a three back attack.
Nate Cox will start at quarterback. Cox gained some valuable experience when Hymas went down with a broken foot for two and a half games last year. Cox had a better completion percentage than Hymas completing 62% of his 59 passes completing 37 of them for 8 touchdowns, 706 yards and just one interception.
Linemen returning are Garrett May, Garrett Rose, Hunter Soderquist and Talan McClure.
The Pirates start the week this Friday night at Sierra Vista High School, a team Moapa Valley beat ending their season last year in the second round of the playoffs.
Sierra Vista is ranked third by Maxpreps in the Division IA to start the season. It’s the first of three games to start the season of tough competition.
Moapa Valley will travel to Hurricane Utah next week where they will face a Tiger team who was the Utah state runner-up to Dixie last year. Hurricane was the third seed from the south with Dixie being the fourth seed last year. Both teams pulled upsets to get to the title game.
Moapa Valley beat the Tigers last year 28-14. Last week Hurricane started their season in Salt Lake City at Skyline High School where they were beaten 17-3. This week they host Union high school.
Moapa Valley’s third game of the season is with Desert Pines in a rematch of the state championship from last year. It is the home opener for the Pirates and will attract the state media and a lot of people.
This game will decide who will travel in the second and third rounds of the playoffs including a possible trip north in the state semi-final. The loser will most likely be the second seed from the Sunrise.
The Pirates are ranked #1 in the state for the division IA. The Las Vegas Sun has Desert Pines the top seed and Moapa Valley second.
The Booster Club has set a date of August 31, a Monday night as the kick off at the high school. Dinner will be provided as well as carnival style booths by each of Moapa Valley’s athletic teams. More information will be coming.
Come out and enjoy all the Pirates athletics this year. Come and support the youth of our valley.
Varsity Football 2015 Season Schedule
Aug 28 7 PM Sierra Vista
Sep 04 6 PM Hurricane
Sep 11 7 PM Desert Pines
Sep 18 7 PM Sunrise Mtn.
Sep 25 7 PM Legacy
Oct 02 7 PM Del Sol (Homecoming)
Oct 09 7 PM Virgin Valley
Oct 16 7 PM Boulder City
Oct 23 7 PM Chaparral
Oct. 29 Region Quarterfinals
Nov. 6 Region Semi-finals
Nov. 14 State Semi-finals
Nov. 21 State Championship
Home games in bold
JV Football 2015 Season Schedule
Aug 27 6:30 PM Sierra Vista
Sep 03 6:30 PM Hurricane
Sep 10 6:30 PM Desert Pines
Sep 17 6:30 PM Sunrise Mtn.
Sep 24 6:30 PM Legacy
Sep 30 6:30 PM Del Sol
Oct 08 6:30 PM Virgin Valley
Oct 15 6:30 PM Boulder City
Oct 22 6:30 PM Chaparral
Home games in bold
Freshman Football 2015 Season Schedule
Aug 27 4:00 PM Sierra Vista
Sep 03 4:00 PM Hurricane
Sep 10 4:00 PM Desert Pines
Sep 17 4:00 PM Sunrise Mtn.
Sep 24 4:00 PM Legacy
Sep 30 4:00 PM Del Sol
Oct 08 4:00 PM Virgin Valley
Oct 15 4:00 PM Boulder City
Oct 22 4:00 PM Chaparral
Home games in bold
