By GANNON HANEVOLD
Moapa Valley Progress
After an unusual season last year, in which a tragic turn of fate turned their season upside down, the Moapa Valley High School Flag Football team is looking to turn the page, and bounce back.
Toward the end of last season the team suffered a tragic loss when former head coach Brent May passed away after suffering from cancer. The team was devastated but finished out the season strong.
Then in a bizarre conclusion to the season, the Pirates were thrust into a playoff tiebreaker that they were informed of just 24 hours prior to kickoff. This left an odd feeling lingering in the Pirate flag football program.
But this season, the team has hopes even higher.
Moapa Valley has many players returning this year, as well as a few newcomers that look to bring more talent to the team. The Pirates look poised to make a run in 2016.
Last year’s starting quarterback, Hattie Gordon, graduated.So the Pirates now have a new face behind center: sophomore Alex Peay.
“Alex is inexperienced, but has a pretty good arm and is a really quick learner,” said Head Coach Dave Belcher. “I’m very confident the team can go far this year.”
Peay will be put into a good position in a Pirates offense chock full of weapons on either side. One of those assets will definitely be Felicia Perez. Belcher praised Perez, saying, “(Felicia) will be contributing on both sides of the ball. She is the heart and soul of the team and is definitely a team leader. Her confidence is going to be very important.”
Aside from Perez, the Pirates also have speedsters Luisa Thielemann and Lexi Schraft, who will certainly be all over the field. Schraft will be absent from the games at the beginning of the season as she is still recovering from a leg injury suffered during soccer season. According to Belcher, however, she will be on track to return as soon as January.
Thielemann will be new to the team as well, but Coach Belcher had high praise for her early on. “She is extremely athletic, and extremely quick,” he said. “She is learning the system fast and will contribute a lot.”
Belcher also has high acclamation for offensive weapons such as sophomore runningback Cambree Pulsipher, wide receiver Callie Gollahon, and center Danielle Chandler.
Belcher said his team’s greatest strength, early on this season, is certainly going to be their defense. But the team will need the offense to follow suit to remain successful, he said.
Much of the offense’s success will revolve around the play of Peay. “It all depends on how our quarterback can develop a rhythm and gain confidence as the season goes on,” Belcher said. “We’ve got a lot of great players, and Alex is going to be great. So if she can pick it up, we are going to be really good.”
Belcher added that his team plans on taking advantage of a difficult preseason schedule and using that time to improve before the league season rolls around. He feels this year’s team has a shot to be very different and that they have a unique potential.
“I’m really excited about this special group of girls,” Belcher said. “Last year’s experience really brought them together. They’re really close and have a very unique bond, and I hope that’s an advantage for us.”
Coach, players and fans alike have their eyes set on the playoffs and beyond. So it should be an exciting season.
Varsity Flag Football Schedule JV Flag Football Freshman Flag Football
Nov 29 4:30 PM Clark 3:30 all games 6:00 all games
Dec 02-03 TBA Lady Bulldog Tourn.
Dec 05 4:30 PM Arbor View
Dec 06 4:30 PM Cimarron
Dec 14 4:30 PM Legacy
Dec 16 4:30 PM Green Valley
Jan 04 4:30 PM Chaparral
Jan 06 4:30 PM Del Sol
Jan 10 4:30 PM Virgin Valley
Jan 12 4:30 PM Boulder City
Jan 23 4:30 PM SECTA
Jan 25 4:30 PM Chaparral
Jan 31 4:30 PM Del Sol
Feb 02 4:30 PM Virgin Valley
Feb 06 4:30 PM Boulder City
Feb 08 4:30 PM SECTA 2:30 3:30
Feb 14-15 Regionals
Feb 20-21 State Championship
Home games in bold
Schedule subject to change without notice
