By Dave Belcher
Moapa Valley Progress
The Green Wave of Fallon travelled to Truckee and nearly beat the Wolverines on the final play of the game.
From the 11 yard line Fallon’s Frank de Braga had the game winning touchdown brush through his fingers and fall incomplete sending Fallon home and the Truckee faithful into celebration mode.
Much like the Moapa /Virgin Valley game two weeks ago, the final four minutes of the game saw three touchdowns scored. The first was a 50 yard intercepted pass taken back for a score by Fallon. The point after gave the Green Wave a 24-21 lead.
Truckee took the next possession at their own 36. Converting two four down situations along the way, they made it to the 11 yard line. Then, with 8 seconds left in the game, quarterback Pat Shaffer hit Eric Holmer for the go ahead touchdown. The point after made the score 28-24 Truckee.
Truckee then received a penalty for celebration and had to kick off from the 25 yard line. After the kickoff, only four seconds remained on the clock. Fallon had the ball 1st and 10 from the 42 of Truckee. Fallon threw the old hook and lateral where speedster Shawntrell Hubbard was taken out of bounds at the 22 yard line.
Cole Roberts of Truckee then hit Hubbard late out of bounds forcing the flag for another unsportsman-like conduct penalty and half the yardage to the goal; the eleven yard line.
The clock was at zeros and since it was a defensive penalty the game could not end. There was an untimed play allowed for a chance to play at the state championship game. That set up the before mentioned incomplete pass to de Braga and the end to Fallon’s season.
Truckee on the other hand spread around high fives and slapped each other on the back in praise and relief. The streak is still alive in Truckee at 35 and holding.
Moapa and Truckee; for the past four years it has come down to these two teams, these two programs, these two communities.
This year they seemed destined to meet as both of them faced elimination in the final seconds and both found a miraculous victory in the end.
The season started out with the two of them being thought of when Truckee was asked to represent its adopted state in the Sollenberger classic in Phoenix Arizona. Truckee turned the opportunity down.
But Moapa took the challenge and, with it, the upset victory setting them on the march to Reno. That victory has given the Pirates motivation and belief that anything is possible.
Truckee plunged into the 3A north and completed an undefeated schedule. For the third year in a row the Wolverines kept their streak which has served as their motivation to the title game.
Two teams, two different routes, the same result: a meeting at Damonte Ranch High School for all the marbles.
Moapa verses Truckee IV.
2 thoughts on “State 3-A Football Roundup”
For the record, Shawntrell Hubbard kept running down the side line and was forced out of bounds by Cole Roberts at about the 13 yard line.
It was so noisy, no one could have heard a whistle, had one been blown.
The game film clearly shows an official marking the play out of bounds at the 22, however, Hubbard kept running toward the end zone, until knocked out of bounds by Roberts.
For the record, Shawntrell Hubbard kept running down the side line and was forced out of bounds by Cole Roberts at about the 13 yard line.
It was so noisy, no one could have heard a whistle, had one been blown.
The game film clearly shows an official marking the play out of bounds at the 22, however, Hubbard kept running toward the end zone, until knocked out of bounds by Roberts.