By DAVE BELCHER
Moapa Valley Progress
The Moapa Valley High School Football team travelled to Las Vegas on Friday and played Cheyenne High School where they were beaten in a come-from-behind win 24-20.
“The keys to this game were controlling the line of scrimmage and matching up with them,” said a very frustrated MVHS coach Brent Lewis after the game. “We could not do that. It’s been fifteen years since our defensive line has been controlled like we were tonight.”
The Pirates were also plagued by turnovers in crucial moments. Throughout the game, the Pirates gave away no less than five turnovers and Cheyenne scored on three of them.
In Moapa Valley’s second series, the Pirates started moving the ball. The first Pirate touchdown was set up by a screen pass to Russell Bodily who took the ball 34 yards to the Cheyenne 16-yardline. A carry to the 6 for first and goal followed. Then a 2-yard run to the 4, before Bodily finished the drive with a 4-yard run and touchdown. The extra point was good for a 7-0 Moapa lead with 1:53 to play in the first quarter.
Cheyenne fumbled on the next possession when Garrett Clove stripped the ball away from the ball carrier and Luke Barlow fell on it.
Clove was one bright spot on the Pirate defense. He ran down several Cheyenne runners from behind, often across the field from his end position.
But on Moapa Valleys very next play, Steele Skinner fumbled the ball and turned it back over to Cheyenne at the Cheyenne 12-yardline. A fourth and two conversion on a sideline pass and a couple of quarterback scrambles took the ball to the Pirate 5-yard line. A two yard gain on a run followed by a Bragg 3-yard run gave Cheyenne their first touchdown. A 2-point conversion attempt failed leaving the Pirates ahead 7-6 with 6:19 to play in the half.
The kick-off sent the ball to the 10-yard line. Austin Hesilbetz took a handoff and ran right down the Pirate sideline. The Pirates set a wall for him allowing Heiselbetz to run 92-yards for a second Pirate touchdown. The extra point missed giving Moapa Valley a 13-6 lead.
Then a stalemate set in where neither team could move the ball.
Heiselbetz attempted to field a short punt with Cheyenne players all around. But the ball hit him, bounced away and was recovered by Cheyenne at the Moapa Valley 26-yard line. Cheyenne took the ball to the 5-yard line and then had three tries to score. On fourth down and goal from the five the Cheyenne pass fell incomplete turning the ball over on downs.
But Moapa fumbled again. Lavian Brown picked up the dropped ball and returned 12 yards for a touchdown. The point after was blocked for the halftime score of 13-12 Moapa Valley.
The Pirates received the ball to start the second half. After driving from their own 44 Moapa scored a 1-yard Hayden Redd touchdown. The extra point was good and Moapa Valley held a 20-12 lead with 6:10 to play in the third quarter.
Cheyenne scored early in the fourth quarter after the Pirates fourth fumble of the game. Madison scored on a 15-yard run and without the 2-point conversion the Pirates held a slim 20-18 lead.
The next possession for Cheyenne ended with Ravion Brown catching a 23-yard touchdown pass.
The Pirates found some life on their next possession moving the ball with help from a 25 yard reception by Redd on a flat pass.
It was fourth down and a yard to go at the Cheyenne 31 when Reese ran a QB keep, just trying for the first down. He was stopped at the line to gain but had dropped the ball while it appeared he was on his knees. Reese also had the ball in his hands when the pile cleared. But the officials called it a fumble and Cheyenne was awarded the ball with 2:01 to play.
Cheyenne punted and the Pirates took over. But they ran out of time with the final score a 24-20.
This was the Pirates final preseason game.
Next week the Pirates will travel to Sam Boyd Stadium to play Rancho. The game will be held on Saturday at 4 PM the second game of a high school triple header at the stadium.
The Pirates are now 3-2 overall as they head into league play. The Rams are 1-4 this season. Their lone win was the first game of the season when they beat Western 31-0.
