Rivalry Game Ends In Pirate Win

MVHS Rallies In Second Half To Beat Bulldogs

By DAVE BELCHER & BOB SNELL

The Progress

Small-town football hit the big time on Thursday night, Nov. 18 as the state’s oldest rivalry reconvened at Allegiant Stadium: the NFL home of the Las Vegas Raiders.

It was at the tail-end of a long day of the 2021 NIAA/One Nevada State Football Championships. But the best contest was saved for last as the Virgin Valley High School Bulldogs met the Moapa Valley High School Pirates at this mammoth venue to battle for the top of the 3A division in the state.

What followed was a game for the ages. After the Bulldogs amassed an early 14 point lead in the first half, the Pirates turned the tide of the game and ended with a 27-14 victory.

The two hometown teams drew a huge crowd to the stadium. With 4,996 paying fans in the seats for the rivalry matchup, it was the best attended game of the day. The other three games, including championships for the 2A, 4A and 5A, all together brought a total of 9,171 attendees over the course of the day.

The Bulldogs struck early scoring on the first play from scrimmage when quarterback Gavin Brown connected with Jimmy Kelly on a bubble screen that went for 68 yards and a touchdown. Edgar Perez added the point after to put Virgin Valley up 7-0 just 11 seconds into the contest.

Moapa Valley didn’t start so well. Their first drive was plagued with penalties. It would end at the Virgin Valley 35 yard line when Bulldog senior Cameron Perkins stepped in front of a quick slant to pick off a pass from Pirate quarterback Peyton Neilson.

The troubles didn’t end there for the Pirates. Later on, the Moapa team had just begun moving the ball into Bulldogs territory when Neilson dropped back to pass. Perkins blitzed causing a strip sack of Neilson. Peanut Workman recovered the ball for the Dawgs at their own 48.

The ensuing Virgin Valley drive would end at the Moapa Valley 5 yard line on an overthrown pass.
Virgin Valley would take a 14-0 lead when Brown found Perkins on a sideline route for a 38 yard catch and run. Perez kicked the extra point with 4:56 to play in the half.

Virgin Valley’s defense stymied the powerful Moapa Valley offense throughout the first half holding the Pirates scoreless until only 42 seconds remained in the first half.

“I thought our defense played really well,” said VVHS Head Coach Matt Woods. “We made some adjustments from the first time we played them. Our offense needed to make a few more plays to help our defense out.”

Finally at the end of the half Moapa Valley dialed in and started a long drive to the goal. It began at the Pirates’ own 27 yard line and ended with Neilson scoring on a sneak for the first Pirate touchdown of the evening. The Bulldogs held a 14-7 lead at halftime.

MVHS Head Coach Brent Lewis said that the approach of his coaching staff was different in the locker room at half time.

“A lot of people asked how much screaming I did at halftime,” Lewis said. “My answer was ‘none.’ Our kids were rattled after that first half and the last thing they needed was us coaches getting in their faces and getting after them.”

“I think when our kids saw how calm and collected our coaching staff was, it helped to calm them down,” Lewis added. “We stayed calm and just kept reassuring our kids that we would be fine, and to just keep playing our game.”

The approach worked. The Pirates were able to move the ball in the second half. With 5:24 to play in the third quarter, Neilson found a wide open Gordon at the four who ran into the endzone for the touchdown. Anderson’s kick tied the game at 14.

But there were still plenty of rough water left for the Pirates. On a Virgin Valley punt, Gunner Redd muffed the reception on the kick and fumbled the ball, turning it over at the Pirate 40 yard line.

Virgin Valley made a valiant effort to capitalize on that field position. The drive took them within three yards of the goal line. But the Pirate defense held firm and the drive ended with the Bulldogs turning the ball over on downs.

Moapa Valley then started a 93 yard drive that would end with them taking the lead for good. At the end, with five yards to go, Neilson faked the handoff in a read option, then ran it in to complete the drive. Anderson missed the kick wide left for a 20-14 Pirate lead.

Virgin Valley started their next series from their own 43 yard line. A series of sideline pass completions to Workman brought the ball forward as far as the Pirate 45. But another deep sideline pass to Workman ended with a fumble as he was stripped by CJ Anderson. Ben Jolley recovered the ball for the Pirates stopping the drive at the 15 yard line.

Later on, the Dawgs started their next possession at their own 23 yard line. Then came the icing for the Pirates. On an out route from the slot, Brown threw and Pirate senior Jayme Cavajal jumped the route, intercepting the ball. Carvajal took it 28 yards for the touchdown. The Anderson extra point finished the scoring 27-14.

Woods praised his team on their performance during the season. “With all the things these kids had to go through this season, they just kept fighting and battling,” he said.
“I am so proud of our boys, and especially the seniors,” Woods added. “They are great kids and will do great things in life. We will be back. We will learn from this and get better from it.”

The Bulldogs made it to this championship game the hard way: on the road. That road wound its way through a 35-0 shutout in Pahrump Valley, and a long trip to Elko to face the northern champion and win, 23-16.

Moapa Valley finished a perfect season, 12-0. It was the Pirates’ 17th state championship, the fourth title for Coach Lewis.

Neilson threw for 210 yards and a touchdown in the game for the Pirates. He also ran for two touchdowns.

MVHS senior Landon Wrzesinski was the Pirate ‘go-to guy’ for this game with 191 yards rushing on 25 carries.

Brown had a solid night for the Bulldogs completing 19-of-34 pass attempts for 295 yards. Benson Leavitt caught 11 passes for 115 yards. The ground game, however, was held to just 23 yards.

The Pirates returned home in glory, receiving the customary midnight victory procession led by fire engines, police vehicles and more. The procession led the team bus followed by a parade of Pirate fans through the valley. Fireworks lit up the sky as it passed. The procession ended at the outdoor quad area at Moapa Valley High School where hundreds gathered to ring the victory bell. It was a good night to be a Pirate!