By DAVE BELCHER
Moapa Valley Progress
Moapa Valley found themselves locked in a battle with the Legacy Longhorns on Friday night. Legacy was making its first visit to Moapa Valley. Moapa Valley came away with a 32-21 victory.
The first play of the game was costly to the Pirates as defensive lineman Bo Redd was helped off the field with a leg injury and not able to return to the game.
Legacy was very aware of Moapa Valley star RJ Hubert and his ability to return kick-offs and punts. Therefore, they kicked the ball way away from him all night long. The first Longhorn punt went out of bounds earlier than it was supposed to. It travelled just four yards. Moapa Valley punted it back.
After another Longhorn punt backed the Pirates up to the six yard line, Hubert took the Nate Cox pitch around the left side and down the Pirate sideline 94 yards for a touchdown with 2:54 left in the first quarter. A bad snap on the point-after forced a missed kick giving the Pirates a 6-0 lead.
Legacy would respond on their next series. Naim Geeslin finished the drive on the first play of the second quarter with a 25 yard touchdown run and took the lead 7-6.
On the kick-off Legacy kicked it onside which had three Pirates run past the ball leaving the ball uncovered where the Longhorns fell on it taking control. Legacy took the ball to the Pirate 9 yard line where they feel apart. On second and goal there was a sack to the 16. Then came a procedure call taking the Longhorns back 5 yards. An illegal substitution call sent them back 10 more yards to the 27. Then came a block in the back and another 10 yard loss. Where the ball went over on downs.
The Pirates would punt.
Legacy moved the ball to the 16 yard line, that’s where Justin Whitehead scored from, with 3:44 to play in the first half.
Moapa Valley had been struggling throwing the ball until the two minute drill found Nate Cox hitting a couple of screens and a quick slant, setting up Hubert who finished the drive from 8 yards away with :34 seconds to cut the Legacy lead to 14-12.
The two point conversion failed sending the teams to half time.
Cox found his rhythm in the three minute stretch which changed the rest of the game. He found Sam Bond in the end zone from 2 yards out giving the Pirates the lead and after Cox found a hole he cut up the field for the two point conversion giving the Pirates a 20-14 lead heading into the final quarter.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Whitehead broke loose finding a hole, then sprinted 64 yards for the touchdown. All this after a roughing the passer call against the Pirates gave the Longhorns a first down. The touchdown ended up tying the game at 20-20. Skye Parker kicked the point after giving the Longhorns a 21-20 lead. That would be the final points for the Longhorns in the game.
Moapa Valley held the Longhorns on 4th and 1 on the Legacy possession at the Legacy 49 yard line. A couple plays later Sterling Simmons found a hole over the left tackle where he sprinted untouched 41 yards for a Pirate touchdown with 6:45 remaining in the game. On the kick-off Legacy returned the ball to the Pirate 46 where he was pushed out of bounds.
Moapa Valley’s defense held them to 4th and 10 at the 45 then forced a sack turning the ball over on downs.
Moapa Valley’s next possession found the Pirates at a 3rd and 7 situation. That’s when Cox found Derick Cope at the 18 yard line. The next play Hubert took the ball and outran everyone to the right corner scoring a touchdown and ensuring the Pirate win.
Moapa Valley had 374 yards total offense with Hubert rushing for 144 yards on 8 carries and 3 touchdowns. Cox was 8-15 for 114 yards passing, 1 touchdown and no interceptions.
Legacy finished with 248 yards total offense with Whitehead running for 117 yards and 2 touchdowns. Naim Geeslin carried the ball 17 times for 102 yards and a touchdown.
