By GANNON HANEVOLD
Moapa Valley Progress
Both the Moapa Valley High School freshman B team and the JV team took on Las Vegas High School last week, and both saw the weekend with fulfillment.
The B team didn’t get off to a great start as an interception cut short their first offensive drive. But just over a minute later, the defense made up for the turnover on the other end. A Wildcats pass to the flats was tipped and intercepted by Rolando Villareal of MVHS. Villareal took the interception 55 yards down the sideline for a touchdown to give Moapa a 6-0 lead.
After the two sides traded touchdowns midway through the second quarter, the Pirates’ coming off of Villareal in the running game, the score would be 14-6.
With just under a minute left in the half, the Pirates were driving down field looking to end the half with a score. Sure enough, despite a defensive deflection, Ryan Allen was able to haul in a Cameron Reese pass just inside the back line of the endzone from 15 yards out.
The Pirates led 20-6, until a Las Vegas passing touchdown came on the final play of the half, making the score 20-12 at the intermission.
In the second half, fumbles traded by either side gave Las Vegas good field position. They capitalized by tying the game at 20.
Yet another fumble gave the Wildcats the ball once more. They took a 28-20 lead with two and a half minutes on the clock in the third quarter.
As the third quarter wound to a close, a screen pass to Rolando Villareal went 60 yards for a Pirates touchdown to cut the lead down to 28-26, setting up a thrilling final quarter.
With two and a half minutes left in the game, the Pirates were driving with a touchdown in sight. Sure enough, Cameron Reese ran the ball in from his quarterback position to give the Pirates the go ahead score.
Las Vegas had an opportunity to respond with a game winning touchdown of their own. But Garrett Clove stepped in with 8 seconds remaining to intercept a pass and seal up a 32-28 Moapa victory.
“I was proud of my boys for their hard work and concentration during another short week of preparation,” said Head coach Stuart Humes. “It was a total team effort coming away with the victory.”
The JV team’s game didn’t come with quite as much of the dramatics, but they still saw the same amount of satisfaction. The Wildcats scored on their first possession of the game, claiming a 7-0 lead.
But after that, it was all Pirates defending their home field. The defense was forcing turnovers, including a fumble recovery and a Luke Barlow interception. Will Uri rushed for three touchdowns in the first quarter.
The Pirates would hold on, with Will Uri adding another touchdown in the third quarter. Elijah Whitmore iced the game in the fourth with a heads up interception. The final score would be 38-13.
“I thought our offense and defense had its best complete game of the season,” said Pirates JV coach Dallas Larsen. “We had very few mental mistakes and ran the ball very effectively.”
