Pirates Shut Down Bulldogs, 19-6

By LOU MARTIN

The Progress

Defenses dominated the big matchup on Friday, Oct. 21 between the undefeated Moapa Valley High School Football team and the hosting Virgin Valley High School Bulldogs. Three of the four touchdowns scored were made on long interception returns by defensive backs. Pirate Jayden Bunker picked off two Bulldog passes for scores and Cutler Crandall also had two picks for the Dawgs. One of those was for the Bulldogs’ only touchdown of the game.

After a long fight in the Dog Pound, the Pirates came off the winner with a final score of 19-6.
The Bulldogs set the tone of the game early on the Pirates first possession as Crandall got his first interception giving the Dawgs good field position on the Pirate 30 yard line. But the Pirate defense stopped the Bulldogs cold. The big Moapa line controlled the line of scrimmage throughout the evening.

Pirate runningback Landon Wrzesinski was the offensive star of the game as he got the Pirates on the board with a 6 yard jaunt through the Dogs for the initial score. The point-after failed with 3:02 remaining in the first period.

The Pirates forced a punt on the Bulldogs next possession but the Pirates fumbled the return on their own 37 yard line. Bulldog defensive star Martin Jordan pounced on the ball giving the Dawgs another good opportunity in Pirate territory. But the period ended with the Dawgs scoreless and left on the Pirate 20 yard line.

Later, a Gunner Cortez 35 yard pass to Jared Jensen set up a first and ten on the Pirates 20 yard line. Three straight runs netted only 6 yards as the Pirates defense stiffened. Cortez’s pass on fourth down was picked off by Bunker on the 8 yard line giving the ball back to the Pirates with 6:45 remaining in the first half.

Bulldog freshman Mason Montoya intercepted a pass on the Pirates 37 yard line giving the Dawgs another good opportunity to get points. The Bulldogs seemed to get a first down but a holding penalty moved the ball back to the Dawgs 45 yard line forcing a punt.

Three straight plays by Wrzesinski netted nine yards forcing a Pirate punt to the Dawgs 33 yard line with .44 seconds remaining in the half.

Instead of winding the clock down, the Dawgs attempted a flat pass to the right side. The only receiver there was Pirate Bunker who took it back to the house, upping the score to 12-0 to the dismay of the Bulldog faithful. The half ended shortly thereafter.

The Bulldogs received the second half kickoff and began their drive on their 20 yard line. Isaiah Frieling got his best run of the day up the middle for 17 yards.

Disaster struck for the Dawgs when Cortez’s pass to the right flat was tipped by Trevor Witter into the hands of Bunker who took it 60 yards for the T.D. The point after was good upping the Pirates lead to 19-0 with 8:40 left in the third period.

The Dawgs started their next drive on their 24 yard line and got a first on a 13 yard pass from Cortez to Martin Jordan. Pirate Witter made a huge play dropping Cortez for an 11 yard loss. Bulldog punter Jordan hit a 60 yard punt to the Pirates 6 yard line.

The Bulldog defense rose to the occasion forcing a Moapa punt.
The Dawgs could not take advantage of good field position, though. They failed on a fourth and five which was compounded by a personal foul call on the Dawgs.

On the very next play of the fourth period, a short pass by Pirate quarterback Cyrus Katich was intercepted by Crandall for a 44 yard T.D. which put the Bulldogs on the board for the first time, 19-6.

With 11:02 remaining on the clock, the Pirates went to their workhorse Wrzsenski who carried the ball 8 times using up 7 minutes of the clock. The Pirates were stopped with a fourth and one giving the ball back to the Dawgs with a little over 3 minutes remaining.

The Bulldogs had one last gasp but a penalty moved the ball back to their 7 yard line. The Pirates defense held, giving the ball back to their offense on the seven. The Pirates proceeded to run the clock out ending the game.
“This was a hard fought defensive struggle for both teams,” said MVHS Head Coach Brent Lewis. “These teams know each other and prepare well for the game.”

Lewis said that his players had kids prepared all week to counter the Bulldogs offense and slow it down. “The key was the pressure we placed on their quarterback,” he said. “Both offenses struggled but we found a way to win. The momentum changed to us on the pick six with seconds remaining in the first half.”

Pirate Wrzsenski led all rushers with 71 yards on 18 carries. The Pirates managed 79 yards through the air split between two quarterbacks.

The Pirates have a bye next week to prepare for a matchup possible against Boulder City in two weeks.
“Our defensive play was outstanding but our offense struggled with our four upfront sophomores battling the big defensive front of the Pirates,” said VVHS Head Coach Matt Woods. “We will go home early (in the playoffs) if we don’t improve our offense, defense AND coaching.”

Leading the way for the Dawgs was Cortez with 7 completions for 99 yards and Frieling with 29 yards on 8 carries.

Jordan was huge on the defensive side with 9 tackles plus averaging 52 yards on three punts. He had 4 receptions for 40 yards plus 10 yards on kick returns.

The Bulldogs will host Eldorado on Thursday Oct. 27 at 6 pm in the first round of the playoffs.