By DAVE BELCHER
The Progress
The 2021 Nevada 3A state football champions are getting ready to defend their title from a year ago. Last year brought a magical run for the Moapa Valley High School football team. It was an undefeated season with a dream State championship game against rival Virgin Valley. It was only the third time this epic matchup had happened in their history with Moapa Valley winning two of them.
As icing on the cake, the final game was played in the brand new Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Now the question on everyone’s mind is: Can the Pirates do it again?
Last year the state championship game was scheduled to be held in Northern Nevada. But, since the 3A had both finalists from the south in the title game, the NIAA made arrangements to move the game to the south instead. Eventually the Raiders offered the new Stadium to the NIAA and all title games were held there with the exception of the 1A game.
This year the game will be held in southern Nevada, which is the normal rotation (north to south). The only exception would be if both finalists are from the north.
The southern league, still split into Mountain and Desert divisions, will have five teams in each; with crossover games held between the two divisions.
The Pirate team has suffered several losses from last year’s roster due to graduation.
But a strong team is returning. That includes Landon Wresinski at runningback. Wresinski led the Pirates with 990 yards and 9 touchdowns on the ground.
Ethan Stankosky, the other runningback, also returns. He had 24 carries of experience and will likely see some time in the back field.
The Pirate receiving crop was lost to graduation with Wresinski being the lone holdout with his seven receptions, 115 yards and a single touchdown last season.
At quarterback, the Pirates will have a choice to fill the shoes of the graduated Peyton Neilson. Will it be Shandon Matheson who was 5-6 in his brief passing experience last year with 2 touchdowns coming in as a junior. Or it could be senior Jayden Bunker who went 2 of 3 passing last year. Both of these had very limited experience.
The Pirate defense will need to replace several as well as the offensive and defensive lines.
Gavin Henrie will help on the line as well as Joe Whitmore.
“We are very young and inexperienced,” said Head Coach Brent Lewis. “We could take a few lumps early in the schedule. But we should be stronger by the end of the season. It all depends on the boys. If they continue to work hard, we will be alright.”
Lewis and his coaching staff will have a challenge in front of them. But their experience could lead this team to another opportunity at a November title run.
The Pirate football season will begin on Friday night, Aug. 19 at 7 pm against a visiting Hurricane team. The following week, Aug. 26, will also be a home game for the Pirates against Eldorado High School out of Las Vegas.
This year’s Homecoming Game will be played on Oct. 7 against Western. .
The Pirates will face Virgin Valley in the Hammer Game on the evening of Oct. 21 on the VVHS football field.
Preliminary Varsity Football Roster
#1- Shandon J Matheson • Jr QB, MLB • 5’8” • 160 lbs
#2- Tanner Hammons • Jr WR, FS • 6’1” • 130 lbs
#8- Degan Jones • Jr. SLB, OLB • 5’11” • 160 lbs
#11- Stockton Davis • Sr. WR, CB • 5’10” • 140 lbs
#12- Ethan Stankosky • Sr. OLB, RB • 5’7” • 150 lbs
#14- Jayden Bunker • Sr. QB, CB, FS • 5’8”
#18 – Briggs Hickman • Fr RB, OLB • 5’8” • 120 lbs
#23 – Landon Wrzesinski • Sr RB, OLB
#29 – Chance Houston • Sr. WR, CB • 5’11” • 100 lbs.
#32 – Jacob Dominguez • Jr. FB, OLB • 6’1” • 160 lbs
#35 – Logon Tafoya • Sr. WR, CB • 6’1” • 157 lbs
#53 – Zaff Farnsworth • Sr. DT, G
#60 – Clay Whipple • Sr. C, DE
#61 – Logan Stewart • Jr. T, DT • 6’4” • 275 lbs
#65 – Grant Henrie • Sr. DE, DT • 6’3” • 230 lbs
#68 – Gavyn Ffrederick • So. C, MLB • 5’10” • 180 lbs
#74 – Gary Leavitt G, MLB
#78 – Maxwell Kelson • Sr. MLB, G • 5’11” • 175 lbs
#88 – Joe Whitmore • Sr. TE, DE, OLB
#89 – Ryder Turner • Sr. TE, OLB • 6’0” • 135 lbs
Cyrus Katich • Sr.
Cash Keller • Jr.
Trevor Witter • Sr.
Rawlinz Porter • Jr.
Alan Werner • Sr.
Breckan Turner
Wyatt Barlow • Jr.
Cyric Stevens • Sr. 5’6” • 151 lbs
Talon Schraft • So.
Tyson Redd • Jr. 5’10” • 135 lbs
Nicholas Farino • Sr. 5’6” • 185 lbs
Hunter Neel • Jr. 6’2” • 330 lbs
Davis Kohntopp • Jr. • 5’8”
Ethan Witter • Sr. 6/2” • 175 lbs
Ryan Bellavance • Jr. G, C, MLB
Kallin Bosch • Jr.
Noah Christensen • Jr.
Jed Stephens • Sr. 5’10” • 140 lbs
Liam Wallace • Sr.
Joshua Lacy • Jr.
Shayden Jenson • Jr.
Varsity Football Season Schedule
Aug 19 7 PM Hurricane
Aug 26 7 PM Eldorado
Sep 01 7 PM Boulder City
Sep 09 6 PM SLAM
Sep 16 7 PM Pahrump
Sep 23 7 PM Rancho
Sep 30 6 PM Valley
Oct 07 (HOCO) 7 PM Western
Oct 14 7 PM Losee
Oct 21 7 PM Virgin Valley
Oct 27 Playoff
Nov 04 Playoff
Nov 12 Playoff
Nov 19 State Champion – South
Home games in bold
Schedule subject to change without notice
JV Football Season Schedule
Aug 26 4 PM Eldorado
Sep 01 4 PM Boulder City
Sep 09 4 PM SLAM
Sep 16 4 PM Pahrump
Sep 23 4 PM Rancho
Sep 30 4 PM Valley
Oct 07 4 PM Western
Oct 27 4 PM Virgin Valley
Home games in bold
Schedule subject to change without notice
