Pirate JV/B Football Teams Wrap Up Season With Wins

By GANNON HANEVOLD

Moapa Valley Progress

The B and JV Pirate football teams quietly made their mark on this season with season finales against the rival Virgin Valley Bulldogs on October 18. Both teams entered the road rivalry game with an undefeated record despite injuries, game cancellations, and other bizarre circumstances. The two squads finished their season on the right note with wins against the Bulldogs, but both came in exciting fashion.

Moapa Valley’s B team traded scores with Virgin Valley throughout much of the game. Quarterback Peyton Neilson helped lead the team down the field throughout the game as both sides traded scores until the very end. It was only in the final minutes that either side would take a two score lead. Luckily for the Pirates, they’d be the ones to make that happen. Leading by just a couple points, Neilson completed a pass to Austin Heiselbetz for a 75 yard touchdown with under two minutes remaining to make it 34-24, Pirates. A Gunner Redd interception wrapped the game up and completed the unbeaten season.

Head coach Stuart Humes pointed out a unique extra motivation his team had. “Beating Virgin Valley is something that meant a lot to these boys,” Humes said. “They played them as sixth graders and lost a close game and haven’t been able to play them until last weekend.”

Humes continued his praise for his team, concluding, “We had some boys playing through injuries and it was impressive to see them battle.”

Despite playing just five games this season because of games cancelled throughout the year, the B Pirates made their season count by ending it with a sweet victory over the neighboring rival.

The JV Pirates also chased an unbeaten record. Like their younger peers, the JV team faced adversity in the first half. A Chris Hoy kick return touchdown early in the game, and another Hoy touchdown; this time courtesy of an athletic grab in the endzone before the halftime whistle; stood as the team’s two scores. Nevertheless, the Bulldogs led 14-12 at the intermission.

After a halftime pep talk, the team came out and dominated the second half, opening up the running game and standing strong defensively, not surrendering a single first down in the final 24 minutes.

“In the first half, I was concerned a bit, but the kids came out with a lot of heart in the second half,” said Pirate coach Dallas Larsen. “Defensively, it was the first time all year that we’ve faced a power running team. We had to adjust our defense a bit and remind the kids that we’ve practiced against this.”

“The boys finally settled down,” Larsen continued. “Our defensive line started getting in gaps and holding their spots. We just started stuffing them. Offensively, we were able to have some ball control.”

As a whole, Larsen was excited with the way the team battled this season, despite the many unique storylines this season featured. “We didn’t really face any challenges until the last two games of the season, so I never knew just how good this team really was.

“I knew we had good pieces,” he added, “but the last two games of the year, they showed me they were capable of stepping up in big moments. My hat is off to the boys.”

It was a successful football season for underclassmen at MVHS, and they have high expectations for being able to carry that forward to the Varsity level in the coming years.