Pirate Football Tames LV Wildcats, 40-14

By DAVE BELCHER

Moapa Valley Progress

Now that was Pirate Football!
The Moapa Valley High School Varsity Football team beat the Las Vegas Wildcats, 40-14, on Thursday night. It was the best played game of the season.
Las Vegas came into the game with an 0-4 record, having played Arbor View, Snow Canyon and Shadow Ridge and being beat badly each time.

Moapa Valley started the game marching down the field. Hayden Redd finished the drive by scoring a touchdown with a 4-yard dive giving the Pirates a 6-0 lead. Leo Rios missed the extra point.
Moapa Valley did not hold the lead for long. Mikes Davis of Las Vegas bobbled the kickoff reception, having to go back for it. But then, scooping it off the ground, Davis weaved his way through the Pirates kick team and out-raced everyone to the end zone. Zach Matlock kicked the extra point for the Wildcats’ only lead of the game.

Hayden Redd gave the Pirates the lead for good when he finished a second quarter drive with an 8-yard run for his second touchdown on the night. Rios missed his second extra point and Moapa Valley held a 12-7 lead

With 13 seconds remaining before halftime, MVHS senior Logan Jackson showed his strength and speed scoring from 26 yards out. A successful 2-point conversion gave the Pirates, a 20-7 lead at halftime.
It didn’t take long for the next Pirate touchdown. Redd scored his third touchdown of the night when he found a hole and broke away for a 50-yard touchdown. All night long the Pirate offensive line created holes which made the running easier allowing the Pirate runningbacks to run for a total of 354 yards on 41 carries during the game.

Las Vegas then scored their final touchdown when Elijah Hicks found a seam, and then poured on the speed beating the Pirates to the goal line 57 yards away
Twenty-one seconds later the Pirates scored again. It was two big plays and two touchdowns.
Moapa Valley held the Wildcats to 229 yards of total offense, 142 yards of that were rushing with Hicks running for 117 yards on 13 carries.

The beginning of the fourth quarter saw Dallas Larsen read a pass from his corner position. He anticipated the throw perfectly picking the ball off. He showed some surprising speed to outrun the Wildcats 87 yards for a touchdown with 10:45 to play in the game.
Jackson would score the final touchdown when he broke a 61-yard touchdown run for the final score 40-14.

Moapa Valley finished with 447 total yards of offense. The Pirates used both quarterbacks alternating them each series. Jackson finished with 159 yards on 12 carries. Redd finished with 136 yards rushing on 16 carries.
Trystin Lehman ran the ball in the first quarter and was successful often with 8 impressive runs totaling 50 yards. Five different Pirates caught one pass each.

This week the Pirates will host 5-1 Chaparral who may be the favorite right now as they are having their best season in a couple of decades.
Chaparral has run for 1444 yards so far this year. They have just 280 yards passing. TyRay Collins is the best runner with 519 yards and 9 touchdowns on 40 attempts. Sheil Fofanah is no slouch either, with 55 runs for 429 yards and three touchdowns.

Collins is also their best receiver with 6 catches for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns. Collins has 12 touchdowns on the season which is second in all the south behind Jayden Perkins of Virgin Valley who has 15 touchdowns and is leading everyone.

This will be the first league game for both teams and will give the winner the inside track for the playoffs, the league title and the first seed in the Sunrise.
Game time is Friday at 7:00 pm in Pirate stadium.