3A Football Around the State: November 10, 2021

By DAVE BELCHER

The Progress

Northern 3A
Fernley at Elko
This game had the defending state champion, Fernley, losing on the road 46-38 in Elko. With the win, Elko will host Virgin Valley in the state semi-final this Saturday at 1PM. Virgin Valley beat Pahrump Valley 35-0 last Friday to advance.

Fernley built a lead of 24-8 by halftime. JR Reyes ran 24 yards for the first Fernley touchdown on the third play of the game ending an 80 yard drive. The extra point failed for a 6-0 lead.

Elko scored on their first drive when Eli Finlayson scored from 5 yards away. The 2-point conversion gave the Indians an 8-6 lead.

Reyes scored a second time with a run from 37 yards. The 2-point conversion was dropped for a 12-8 Fernley lead in the second quarter.

Reyes scored his third on the next possession with a 20-yard run. Once again the Vaqueros were stopped short for the 2-point conversion for an 18-8 lead with just under 9 minutes remaining in the first half.
Quarterback McIntyre ran a 7-yard touchdown for a 24-8 lead where it stayed for halftime.

Finlayson started the Elko comeback with a 7-yard run off a toss for a touchdown on the Indians first series of the second half. He also scored the 2-point conversion with a run. Elko trailed 24-16.
Reyes scored his fourth rushing touchdown from a yard out on Fernley’s next possession. Fernley still couldn’t convert the 2-point try to lead 30-16 midway in the third quarter.

Nielsen scored from 7-yards away for Fernley with a run up the middle. Fesenmier caught the 2-point conversion, 30-24.

Finlayson tied the game with a 29-yards touchdown reception. For the first time in the game Elko’s 2-point conversion failed for a 30-30 tie headed into the fourth quarter.

Elko took the lead on a safety when, being deep in their own territory, a Fernley snap went over McIntire’s head and out the back of the endzone for 2-points. 32-30 Elko.

The Indians would make it a 40-30 lead after another Finlayson touchdown run of 4-yards. He converted the 2-point conversion.

Whiting scored the next Indians touchdown with a 32-yards reception. Not able to complete the 2-point conversion Elko led 46-30 with 4:40 remaining in the game.

Fernley did score the final touchdown with a 1-yard run by Reyes for the final 46-36.

Churchill at North Valleys
Churchill County beat the undefeated North Valleys Panthers in Reno 21-14 to earn a date with Moapa Valley in Moapa Valley for the state semi-final this Saturday at 1 pm.

If Moapa Valley and Virgin Valley both win their semi-final games the state championship game will be played in Las Vegas and not Reno.

Brody Jacks scored the game winner for the Greenwave with six seconds remaining in the game from 2-yards away, sending the Greenwave to Moapa Valley for the state semi-final.

Churchill County has never been to Moapa Valley, but the Pirates have made the trip to Fallon twice for semi-final games and once in Reno for the state championship game in 2015. The Pirates came away with no victory in any of those games.

Churchill County built a 14-0 lead early in the game and looked to have the game under control as they forced three Panther turnovers in the first half keeping their offense off the field with a 14-0 lead at halftime.

North Valleys scored on the first play of the second half when quarterback Cameron Zieder kept the ball running 67 yards for the touchdown. He tied the game with another run in the fourth quarter.

North Valleys finished their season 8-1.