Pirate Flag Football Faces Season With Optimism

By GANNON HANEVOLD

Moapa Valley Progress

With a league full of teams turning over new leaves in their program, Moapa Valley’s flag football team is not much different. There’s plenty of hope for Pirate success on the winter football field with a team full of speedy athletes and enthusiastic newcomers.

Hoping to tackle their inexperience, the Pirates have been getting started early on understanding the fundamentals of flag football. Head coach Dave Belcher has high hopes and expectations for his team.
“Right now, we’re just young,” Belcher said. “We only have one senior with playing time returning (Elena Ramirez) and a total of three returning seniors.”

The number of players coming out for the sport has taken an impressive rise this season. There are 71 girls combined at all three levels, with just over thirty playing on the varsity team. Most notably, the team includes ten foreign exchange students, continuing the tradition of popularity for flag football among those coming from overseas.

Along with high quantities of athletes, the Pirates also will feature a good measure of athleticism. Belcher expects the team to have plenty of speed and weapons on offense. He noted sophomore Bailee Andrew on the offensive end and Skotlyn Hill on the defensive side as some of the underclassmen expected to make an impact. He also has high hopes for freshman Alexis Gould who the team is pulling up to the varsity roster.

“She is really fast and she should help out a lot,” Belcher said of Gould. “We also have a couple of exchange students who are pretty fast and have been picking up the game pretty quickly as well.”
“We’ve got more speed than we’ve ever had and if we can get the ball to them, we’re going to be alright,”

Belcher added. “There’s a lot of optimism. The girls are very enthusiastic and excited to play.”

Who the Pirates place under center this season is still a question mark. But Belcher named two juniors who he expects to compete for the position. Graceann Erickson and Allyson Stewart will both have an opportunity for the role of quarterback for the Pirates.

With a team of inexperienced players, Coach Belcher has emphasized a slow approach. “We’re just sticking with the basics and going over it and over it until they understand what needs to happen,” he said. “As we develop that knowledge and experience, our speed is going to become a very big asset to us.”

As for the competition, perennial contenders Boulder City and Virgin Valley will be replacing plenty of lost seniors. Cheyenne, another former powerhouse, has moved out of the Division 3A.

Belcher said the Southern region is now a “wide-open race” especially considering all but one team will be in playoff contention this year. More than likely, Moapa Valley will get their shot at a playoff game.
There’s a lot of hope and a lot to look forward to for Pirate flag football this year, despite a string of tough seasons in the past.

Coach Belcher left fans with one final message of optimism. “This has potential to be the best overall team we’ve ever had if things go right,” he said.

It should be a thrilling season of Moapa Valley flag football.