By DAVE BELCHER
The Progress
The Moapa Valley High School Football team traveled for the third week in a row on Friday, Sept. 16. Their two-hour trip to Pahrump Valley ended with a close, nail biting 7-6 win over the the Trojans.
A much improved team over previous years, Pahrump Valley failed to convert on the 2-point try last week, which would have given them the lead and possibly the victory over the Pirates. But it was not to be.
In the second quarter of the game, the Trojans threw an interception to Degan Jones allowing the Pirates to start their drive at the 49 yard line. A minute later, Stankoski took the handoff on a counter and raced 31 yards for the Pirate touchdown. Cash Keller kicked the extra point for a 7-0 Pirate lead.
On the Trojans possession they took the ball to the Pirate 20 yard line where the drive stalled forcing a 36 yard field goal which was missed to the right.
The Trojans scored their touchdown in the third quarter on a 31 yard pass that barely made the endzone. Their 2 point conversion was stuffed at the line of scrimmage giving the Pirates a 7-6 lead which they kept to win the game.
The Pirates were plagued with penalties on the following series forcing them to turn the ball over. The Trojans started inside the 50 yard line moving the ball to the Pirate 34. They threw the ball more in this game than they have in many years trying to open up their offense. But it also resulted in another interception near the 13 yard line by Landon Wrzesinski who returned the ball to the Moapa 44 yard line.
The Pirates moved the ball to the 5 yard line. On a tackle, Stankoski extended the ball with both hands. Then a Trojan lineman jumped on the ball while still in Stankoski’s hands. But after a pause, with no whistle from the referees to end the play, the Pahrump player got up with the ball and started running the other way. He made it to the Pirate 45 yard line before he was stopped.
Despite the iffy call, the Pirate defense held solid. After a Trojan holding call sent Pahrump back to the Trojan 45, a completed pass moved the ball to the Pirates 30 yard line. Another Trojan hold sent them back to the Pirate 45. Then a sack by Joe Whitmore dropped the Trojans back to their own 47. Three incomplete passes then ended any hope for a Trojan win as the Pirates knelt the ball out for the win.
The Pirates remain undefeated with a 5-0 record overall. They will begin league play this Friday night when they host the Rancho Rams at Jeff Keel Stadium.
Rancho has an overall record of 2-3. They started the season with 2 wins. They have lost their last three games including last Friday night against the Las Vegas Wildcats in the annual “Bone” Game 35-7.
Friday’s game time is 7 pm.
