Pirates Pummel The Warriors, 43-6

By DAVE BELCHER

The Progress

The Moapa Valley High School Football team hosted the Western Warriors in the 2022 Homecoming football game on Friday night, Oct., 7. The game was dominated from the beginning as the Pirates pummelled the Warriors 43-6.

The Pirates actually pushed the Warriors backward on the first two plays of the game. Then on the third play, Gavyn Fredrick sacked the Warriors quarterback in the endzone for a safety giving the Pirates a 2-0 lead with 10:26 to play in the first quarter.

The Pirates would score the first touchdown of the game when Shandon Matheson found Degan Jones for a 22 yard catch and run with 8:54 in the first quarter to play. Cash Keller missed the extra point as the snap was mishandled. The Pirates led 8-0.

The Pirate defense dominated the next Warrior series as they made tackles for a loss, then a sack forced the Warriors to punt out of their endzone. Two plays later Landon Wrzenski ran around the left end and found the endzone after an 18 yard run. Keller kicked the extra point for a 15-0 Pirate lead with 6:01 to play in the first quarter.

On the first play of the second quarter Jones found the endzone for a second time after a 38 yard run around the right end. Keller kicked the extra point for a 22-0 lead with 11:52 to play in the first half.

On their first play after the kickoff, Western fumbled the ball when the snap was mishandled by the quarterback. Ethan Stankoski picked up the loose ball and returned it 15 yards untouched for a touchdown with 11:44 remaining in the half. Once again Keller kicked the extra point for a 29-0 lead.
Wrzenski would score his second touchdown on a screen pass down the middle of the field. Stepping through a tackler’s arms then down the Western sideline 60 yards yards for a touchdown. With Keller’s kick the Pirates owned a 39-0 lead.

The Pirates held the Warriors on fourth down at the Warrior 45 yard line. Matheson ran the ball to the Warrior 15 yard line then tripped falling 10 yards short of the goal line. He scramble left and threw an interception in the endzone two plays later. That ended the half.

Moapa Valley received the kickoff to start the second half. The first play saw Cyrus Katich hit Jones with a 60 yard pass for an apparent touchdown. A personal foul penalty brought the ball back – plus 15 yards.
On the next play, Wrzenski scored his third touchdown early in the third quarter when he busted threw the Western defense for 75 yards and the final Pirates touchdown. Keller kicked the extra point for a 43-0 lead with 10:12 to play in the third quarter.

The rest was played with a running clock due to the mercy rule of a 35 point or more lead at any time during the game.

Western did score. With 2:08 to play in the game the Warriors scored on a 13 yard run for the final score 43-6.

This Friday night the Pirates will host senior night and play the Somerset Academy Losee Lions.
Losee is 3-5 overall and 1-2 in league play. They were beaten by Rancho last week 31-8. Their only league win so far was against Western two weeks ago 44-6. They are currently in fourth place in the 3A Desert league.