Pirates Beat Rams, 45-7

By DAVE BELCHER

The Progress

The Moapa Valley High School Football team returned to Jeff Keel stadium on Friday night, Sept. 23, for their first home game in over three weeks. The Pirates trounced the visiting Rancho High School team in the game, 45-7.

The Pirates returned with a 5-0 record, a 21 game win streak dating back to COVID. The Rams were 2-3 overall entering the first league game for both teams.

It took only six plays for the Pirates to score the first touchdown of the game. At 9:01 into the first quarter, Ethan Stankoski took the counter 32 yards into the endzone. After a Cash Kellar extra point kick the Pirates got started with a 7-0 lead.

Landon Wrzesinski scored from a yard away with a run up the middle. The two point try failed on an overthrown pass by Matheson for a 13-0 Pirate lead early in the second quarter.

Rancho quarterback Vince Marcione fumbled on their next series as he raised his arm to pass. Pirate defender Joe Whitmore picked the ball up and ran 34 yards to the 1 yard line. Pirate QB Matheson then ran into the endzone on a keeper and a touchdown. The extra point kick was tipped and incomplete for a 19-0 Pirate lead.

Degan Jones mishandled the punt from the Rams and fumbled the ball. The Rams received at the Pirate 23 yard line.

But Jayden Bunker jumped infront of a Rams pass at the 1 yard line and returned it 99 yards for the Pirates touchdown with 3:42 to play in the first half. Keller scored the extra point for a 26-0 lead.

The Rams were forced to punt again. The Pirates took a seven play drive from the 40 yard line into the endzone. Katich connected with Bunker for a 16 yard touchdown pass to end that drive with :29 second to play in the half. Keller’s kick was good for a 33-0 Pirate lead at half time.

Wrzesinski scored again in the second half with a 16 yard run in the third quarter, 39-0.
Mateo Bradshaw ran in the final touchdown from 6 yards away for a 45-7 win.
“We got to play a lot of kids tonight,” said MVHS Head Coach Brent Lewis. “It was a good win. It was good to finally put a lot of points on the board.”

The Pirates threw for 77 yards in the game with Katich throwing 6-11 for 59 yards and a touchdown. Matheson was 2-2 for 18 yards.

Wrzesinski ran the ball 13 times for 144 yards and 2 touchdowns. Stankoski had 4 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown. Moapa Valley ran for 262 yards total and finished with 339 yards of total offense.

The Pirates will travel to Valley High School Friday night. The Vikings are 1-4 overall and 0-1 in league play. They were beaten by Western 22-0 on Friday night.