MVHS Flag Football Has Solid 2-1 Week

By GANNON HANEVOLD

Moapa Valley Progress

In the thick of the regular season, the Moapa Valley High School Flag Football team had a busy week that featured many highlights on the field. With three games in just five days, the team battled through injuries and fatigue to right the ship on what has been an up-and-down season.

The Pirates started the week on Monday, Jan. 14, at home against Western. The Warriors, positioned in last place in the southern league, came with a chip on their shoulder.

In the first quarter, with a 7-0 lead, Western was driving and prepared to score again. But MVHS senior Elena Ramirez intercepted a pass to bring the ball back. Seven minutes into the second quarter, Lara Bingisser caught a pass in the endzone from Graceann Erickson to tie the game at 7-7.

On the ensuing drive, another interception kept the momentum going, this time in the arms of Alexis Gould. Bingisser caught another short touchdown to make the score 13-7.
With less than a minute left in the half, Bingisser then stayed with the hot hand and caught a slant route over the middle. Then she turned up field for a 66 yard score.

With a 19-7 lead, Alexis Gould’s second interception of the game in the final seconds brought the Pirates into the half with a strong lead.
The Warriors came out determined in the second half, capping off a long drive with a short touchdown pass halfway through the third quarter.

Now leading 19-13, the Pirates were stalled on offense and stunned on defense by a long Warrior rushing touchdown. Thanks to a defensive stand on the conversion, the score remained 19-19 going into the final quarter.

With three minutes on the clock, Erickson had an opportunity to take the team down the field for a game-winning drive. With 35 seconds remaining, Erickson had the Pirates in Western territory. She lobbed a pass down the right seam to Alexis Gould, who hauled it in and stumbled across the goal line for the go-ahead touchdown. The Pirates won it 25-19.

Two days later, Moapa Valley carried that momentum into their second home game of the week against Mojave. This time around, Allyson Stewart filled in under center as Erickson nursed an injury from Monday’s action. The team rallied around Stewart and two fourth quarter rushing touchdowns by Jerzi Anderson brought the Pirates to a 12-6 victory.

After a 2-5 start, the Pirates were just one game from getting back to .500 in the regular season.
In their final game of the week, Moapa Valley traveled to Valley High School to take on the Vikings. Stewart was still taking snaps on offense.

In a defensive battle, the game came down to the final quarter. Like many games this season, the Pirate defense was tested late in the game, but this time the Vikings got the best of Moapa. A late rushing touchdown by Frida Ochoa-Uribe of Valley brought them a 6-0 victory.
So at 4-6, the Pirates remain in the midst of a tight playoff hunt.

Head coach Dave Belcher said of his team, “The girls played hard this week. It’s always difficult to play three games in five days.”
“We are battling for playoff position and are hoping for a home game,” Belcher added. “I’m proud of my girls and the hard work they have been putting in.”

The Pirates currently stand in sixth place in the 3A, where eight teams reach the playoffs. They’ll have a chance to elevate their rank with a home matchup Wednesday against fifth place Sunrise Mountain.