Pirates Fall To Green Wave

By DAVE BELCHER

Moapa Valley Progress

It was a war at the State Championship football game between the Churchill County Green Wave and the Moapa Valley Pirates. As it played out on Saturday in Reno, the Green Wave came out on top with a 34-27 victory over the Pirates.
“We play our guts out,” said MVHS Coach Brent Lewis. “We left it all out on the field and there’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

This game between the top seeds from the north and south had a lot of issues to contend with. But the final result came because of the play of Fallon’s quarterback Connor Richardson. His passing and running was what made the difference in the Green Wave victory.

The official’s crew is comprised of southern and northern officials. The southern ref was on the Fallon sideline and northern on the Pirate sideline. That being said Moapa Valley coaches were told before the game to stay six yards from the side line.
“That is your warning” he said.

Now I’ve been on the side lines as a JV coach or reporter for 16 years. That was the first time I’ve ever heard that. What was interesting was he seemed more interested in the sideline than in the game. In my notes I have him throwing three flags: two on the sideline limiting Coach Lewis and an unsportsman in the end zone. That last one was thrown from his sideline spot and not the official five yards away from the player in question.

Even so, Moapa Valley made enough mistakes to cost them the game. But the Pirates were flagged 15 times in the game. Fallon had 5. Nine of the Pirate flags came in the second quarter including helping move the Wave 40 yards down the field. The second half saw fewer flags meaning it must have been discussed during half time by the officials.

Fallon started with the ball and went 3 plays and out.
After the punt, Moapa Valley started at the Fallon 38. An 11 yard run by Sterling Simmons started the drive. Hubert ran for another 11 on 3 and 1 to take the ball to the Fallon 31. Then, on 4th and 8 from the 29 yard line, Nate Cox threw his first of two interceptions. His throw to the end zone was picked at the 1 yard line. The positive was it was better than a punt.

The first play for Fallon after the pick Richardson found his receiver on the 44 yard line. That started a 10 play ending when Cade Vercelloti scored from1 yard out to give the Wave the lead. The extra point was wide left leaving the score 6-0.

The Pirates started the next series with great field position at the Moapa 43. Deal carried for 18 yards. Then RJ Hubert carried the ball and fumbled at the line of scrimmage: something he hasn’t done all year. Fallon recovered and took over at the 35.

The first quarter ended with Fallon on the 41 after a 3 down and 15 conversion gave them a first down.
On the first play of the 2nd quarter a run up the middle by Vercelloti appeared to be fumbled when Vercelloti was held up and stripped. There was no whistle to kill the play and Moapa Valley was holding the ball in the air after the play, behind where Vercelloti was taken to the ground where forward motion ended.

The official’s met for a conference and it was determined the forward progress killed the ball allowing Fallon to keep it at the 50.
This was followed by a Richardson pass to the 30, a run to the 18 and then another pass into the end zone for another controversial call. The touchdown was not in doubt, but a targeting call when a Pirate defender and the Fallon receiver Nelson hit helmets both going for the ball. Moapa Valley was called for targeting.

The penalty was enforced on the kick-off. On the kick off from the Pirate 45 Jacob Leavitt fielded the ball then reversed it to Hubert who lost his footing on the wet field. He went down at the 10 yard line.
But a play later, Cox tossed the ball to Hubert who found a hole and outran everyone 90 yards for the Pirate touchdown. Jay Mortensen’s point-after try was blocked cutting the Fallon lead to 13-6.
Fallon then went on a 17 play drive helped by three Pirate penalties, a sideline penalty, defensive pass interference and a defensive holding. The Green Wave drive ended with a Richardson 5 yard touchdown pass.

The point after try was missed but another Pirate penalty for hitting the center gave Fallon another try. Moapa Valley then jumped off sides. Fallon inside the 1 lined up for the kick, after the snap, the holder flipped the ball to the runner who was stopped. The score was 19-6, Fallon.
After the kick-off, Moapa Valley had good field position at the 31. Hubert carried the ball to the 49. A Moapa Valley hold took it back to the 41. A Fallon blitz stopped Deal in the back field.

On the punt return Moapa Valley was called for a face mask and Fallon had the ball at their 36. Two plays later Derek Cope picked Richardson with a great catch just before the ball hit the ground. Eight plays later Hubert scored on a 3 yard touchdown run up the middle. Mortensen’s PAT was kicked high and just barely cleared the crossbar for a 13-19 Fallon lead with 33 seconds remaining to play in the first half.

Fallon was forced to take a time out after the first play killing the clock with 26 seconds. Two incomplete passes also stopped the clock forcing Fallon to punt.
Deal broke through the middle and blocked the kick then recovered the ball and started running toward the end zone. But he couldn’t keep his balance and went down at the Fallon 21 with 2 seconds remaining in the half. Cox’s pass fell incomplete to end the half.

The Pirates received the second half kick-off. On the first play from the Pirate 45 Cox pitched the ball to Simmons on an option. Simmons didn’t stop until he reached the endzone 55 yards away. With Mortensen’s extra point Moapa Valley took their only lead at 20-19 with 11:42 to play in the 3rd quarter.

Moapa Valley had the momentum as they held Fallon to 3 plays and a punt. Fallon looked confused.
The Pirates took over at their own 41. The first play resulted in an intentional grounding when Cox ran out of the pocket throwing to no one. The Pirates ended up punting as the momentum fizzled.
Fallon then went on a 9 play drive that ended in a 3 yard touchdown run from Vercellotti. This gave the Wave back the lead they would never relinquish again. The 2-point conversion pass from Richardson to Nelson was good. 27-20 with 5:51 to play in the 3rd quarter.

Moapa Valley started the next drive at their 23. A big run from Deal, and then Simmons, took the Pirates to the 50. Hubert picked up 5 yards on a pass from Cox, then ran the ball another 31. Cox found Cope for a 31 yard touchdown pass and Mortensen kicked the extra point to tie the score at 27 with 1:57 to play in the 3rd quarter.

Fallon started their next drive from their 41 yard line. Fallon took it to the 11 yard line on two runs and a pass. Vercellotti scored from 5 yards out after an unsportsman like was called on the Pirates secondary. The extra point was good for a 34-27 lead with 11:46 to play in the game.
That was all the scoring. The Pirates couldn’t sustain a drive the rest of the game, while Fallon used as much time as possible.

The game was played at Reno High School and their grass field. When asked, I was told the NIAA didn’t reserve Damonte Ranch High School where the championship games are usually played in the North on their turf field. Instead there was pop warner championships at Damonte Ranch using the venue. Not to knock Reno High school’s field, it was beautiful to look at, but very wet and spongy due to the watering the night before the games.
This year’s team worked very hard and as coach Lewis said “left everything on the field.” The seniors will be missed but others will take their place next year.

Fallon finished with 413 yards total offense 135 yards rushing and 278 yards passing on 77 total plays. Connor Richardson was 24 of 36 for the 278 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Cade Vercelloti had 28 carries for 113 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns. Richardson had 13 carries for 22 yards. Brock Uptain had 7 receptions for 68 yards, Conner Nelson had 6 receptions for 71 yards and 2 touchdowns while Aaron Bitter had 4 receptions for 81 yards.

Moapa Valley had 362 yards total offense: 245 yards rushing on 27 carries, 117 yards passing. Cox was 6 of 19 with a touchdown and two interceptions. RJ Hubert had 124 yards rushing with 2 touchdowns and 2 receptions for 21 yards. Sterling Simmons had 10 carries for 98 yards and a touchdown. Cope had 4 receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown.

Even though the outcome didn’t fall in the favor of the Pirates, the season was one of the most exciting and dramatic ever. The Pirates showed everyone that they have the best program and coaches and most important the best students in the state.
The residents of Moapa Valley love their football as they filled the stands in Reno.