By DAVE BELCHER
The Progress
The Virgin Valley High School Football team travelled to Jeff Keel Field and Stadium in Moapa Valley on Friday night, Oct. 22, for the annual “Hammer Game” the longest running rivalry in the state of Nevada.
At the end of a hard-fought game, the Pirates retained the Hammer for a second year with a 46-28 victory.
For the opening kickoff, Virgin Valley kicked out of bounds. Everyone settled in for a characteristic plodding Pirate drive down the field. But on the second play of the game, MVHS quarterback Peyton Neilson threw a quick pass intended for Gunner Redd in the flat. VVHS senior Benson Leavitt stepped in front of it, making a beautiful one-handed catch. Leavitt then ran 41 yards for a Virgin Valley touchdown. Placekicker Edgar Perez nailed the extra point giving the Bulldogs the first lead of the game 7-0. It was only 38 seconds into the game.
Moapa Valley’s second possession started at the Pirate 43. The second play saw the snap go through the hands of Neilson who retreated to recover the ball. He picked it up and ran down the Bulldog side line to the 30 yard line. The very next play with a quick pass from Neilson, Gunner Redd ran to the line of scrimmage. But he was hit and fumbled the ball. The Bulldogs recovered at the 30 yard line. This Bulldogs possession would end up with a punt on 4th down.
From there, the Pirates moved the ball down to the Bulldog 10 yard line looking to put a score on the board. But the Bulldogs stiffened up their defense, stuffing a dive up the middle, then sacking Neilson for a 6-yard loss. The Dawgs held the Pirates out of the endzone on a great defensive stand and the score remained 7-0.
Later on, Moapa Valley moved the ball to the Bulldog 30 yard line. On 4th and 3, Austin Heiselbetz stepped behind center in the wildcat. He took the snap, ran right off the guard for the first down plus three yards. A few moments later, Heiselbetz stepped in again and ran 19 more yards for the first Pirate touchdown of the game. Anderson missed the extra point leaving the Pirates still trailing 7-6.
But the Pirates were just settling in. They finished their next possession with another wildcat play by Heiselbetz, giving the Pirates a 12-7 lead. The extra point was blocked.
Later on Neilson found Dustin Gordon in the endzone for a 8-yard reception and a touchdown. The 2-point conversion attempt was no good when Neilson was sacked by the Bulldog defense. But the Pirates led 18-7 with 3:35 to play in the half.
The next Bulldog possession ended with 19 seconds remaining. Gordon stepped in front of the screen pass intercepting the ball and took it 30 yards for the Pirates’ fourth touchdown of the second quarter. Again, the extra point failed and the Pirates took a 24-7 lead into half time.
The Pirates scored again on their first possession of the second half when Landon Wrszinski ran 3 yards into the endzone. He also caught the first 2-point conversion of the game giving the Pirates a 32-7 lead.
But Virgin Valley didn’t give up. Continuing a solid fight, the Bulldogs scored their second touchdown when Benson Leavitt caught a 3 yard pass from Gavin Brown with 27 seconds remaining in the third.
Midway through the fourth quarter Heiselbetz scored on a 4-yard reception from Neilson. With this touchdown, Neilson broke the Moapa Valley record held by Zack Hymas with his 27th touchdown of the season. Anderson made the extra point this time for a 39-14 lead.
Virgin Valley was still battling, a sign of a great program with a great coaching staff. Leavitt scored his third touchdown of the night with a 5 yard reception from Brown with 3 minutes to play, making the score 39-21.
Gordon scored his second touchdown of the night for the Pirates with a 37 yard reception at just over a minute to play. The extra point pushed the lead to 46-21.
Still not ready to concede, Cutler Crandall caught a 19 yard touchdown pass from Brown in the final seconds for the final score of 46-28.
“We got off to an unusual start,” said MVHS Head Coach Brent Lewis after the game. “We spotted them a touchdown and then turned it over on our next possession. But we were able to right the ship in the 2nd quarter. Our defense played spectacularly tonight and we were able to take control of the game.”
VVHS Head Coach Matt Woods acknowledged that his team had some work to do. “Going forward we just got to play better and I have to coach better,” he said.
Woods noted that a few of his key players are just getting back from being injured earlier in the season. “That will help us a ton!” he said.
“Our goal hasn’t changed,” he added. “I still have full confidence we can get it done. Hopefully we can get back on track and, you never know, maybe we meet those guys again in four weeks.”
