By DAVE BELCHER
The Progress
Everyone expected it was going to be a battle, and it was!
The Moapa Valley High School Football team went up against a tough 4A Clark High School on Friday night in the Pirates’ Homecoming game at Jeff Keel Stadium. In the closest game they have seen this season, the Moapa team held out for a hard-fought win against the Chargers 35-28.
Clark came into the game with a 6-1 record. The Pirates were 7-0 overall and 3-0 in the 3A Desert division.
The game started with fireworks as Gunner Redd took the handoff on the reverse sy the opening kick from the Chargers. Redd raced past the Clark sideline for 85 yards to give the Pirates a 6-0 lead after only the first 14 seconds of play. The extra point attempt was missed after a bad snap.
But Clark wasn’t phased by the early touchdown. The Chargers made it look easy as their running game moved the ball down the field. With 6:52 to play in the first quarter, Clark quarterback Mason King ran a keeper the final yard for the touchdown. The extra point gave the Chargers a 7-6 lead. It was the first time this season the Pirates had trailed in a game.
Clark would score again, this time on the first play of the second quarter with a 9 yard touchdown run. Clark had a 14-6 lead with 11:54 to play in the first half.
The Pirates got fired up! Next possession Moapa Valley scored on a 9 yard rec by Dustin Gordon from Peyton Neilson.With the extra point it was a 14-13 Clark.
Moapa Valley wasn’t finished. Next series Redd caught a Neilson pass and carried it to the endzone for a 61-yard catch and reception for a 19-14 lead. The 2-point conversion made it 21-14 with 2:56 to play.
Still not finished in the first half, Redd caught another pass from Neilson for his third touchdown of the game. With 38 seconds remaining in the half. The extra point carried the Pirates to a 28-14 lead at halftime.
It was Clark who had the kick coming to them as the second half started. And it was Clark that returned it 90 yards for the touchdown. With the extra point, the Chargers cut the Pirate lead to a touchdown, 28-21.
On the ensuing kick off, Clark kicked the ball at a lineman. The ball ricocheted off the Pirate and Clark recovered it. Then Clark fumbled the ball back to the Pirates who, on their second play of their series, fumbled giving the ball back to the Chargers. All of this took place within the first 23 second of the third quarter.
Heiselbetz finally scored a touchdown with a 6 yard slant midway through the quarter. With Andersons extra point the Pirates held a 35-21 lead.
Clark would score the final touchdown of the night with a 35 yard pass with 5 minutes to play in the third quarter.
Neilson was 16-24 for 242 yards throwing, while Landon Wrzesinski carried the ball 12 times for 113 yards. Moapa Valley had over 400 yards of total offense.
This Friday night, the biggest game of the season comes to Moapa Valley High School as the Pirates will host the Virgin Valley Bulldogs in the 3A Desert Division title game. At stake will be the top seed from the division heading into the playoffs. The winner gets a bye in the first round and, of course, the “Hammer.” Game time is 7 pm!
