By DAVE BELCHER
The Progress
It was a battle down to the end on Friday, Nov. 4, as the Moapa Valley High School Football team ended the season for the Boulder City Eagles on an interception in the final seconds of the 3A Regional semifinal game. The Pirates won the game, 8-7.
It had figured to be a higher scoring game as both teams had averaged over 30 points a game throughout the season.
The Pirates were coming off a bye as the top seed in the Desert league while the Eagles were the second seed from the Mountain.
Moapa Valley struggled to get in gear in the first half, perhaps showing signs of rust from their week off. The Eagles held the lead for a good part of the game. At the start of the second quarter, the Eagles had advanced to the Pirate 9 yardline. A run for no gain and a sack made it third and goal from the 14 yard line.
Then Chase Jappe took the ball and ran 14 yards into the endzone for the touchdown. The extra point gave the Eagles a 7-0 lead.
It wasn’t until after the half-time when the Pirates started to look like the team that was 10-0. Momentum swung in the Pirates direction in the third quarter as the Pirates charged down the field inside the Eagle 10.
On fourth down and 1, MVHS quarterback Cyrus Katich took the snap at the 4 yard line and tossed the ball to Landon Wrzenski for a 2 yard run and first down.
In the next play, Wrzenski set up in wildcat formation. He took the snap and ran off the right tackle for the Pirate touchdown. The Pirates trailed 6-7.
Taking a bit of a risk, MVHS Coach Brent Lewis decided to capitalize on the momentum and go for the two-point conversion try. Wrzenski lined up in the wildcat again. He took the snap and ran a couple steps forward, then jumped and pushed the ball over the line into the waiting hands of Joe Whitmore for the conversion and a Moapa Valley lead, 8-7.
That’s where the score would stay. But it wouldn’t be without a struggle.
In the fourth quarter, Boulder City started their final drive at the Pirate 26 yardline. They had held the Pirates on fourth and 6 taking over from there.
On the first play, the quarterback found a hole up the middle and ran 25 yards to the Pirate 49. He kept the ball two more times then threw for a first down at the Pirate 35. Then on fourth and 7 from the 32, a Pirate pass interference call over the middle gave the Eagles a first down at the 17 yard line.
A third and 8 saw a pass to the 11 on the Eagle sideline. It was caught and taken to the 9. The receiver was hit by MVHS senior Jayden Bunker as he stepped out of bounds. Bunker was called for a personal foul on the play, moving the ball to the 4 yard line for a first down.
With a winning touchdown in their grasp, the Eagles lined up just outside the endzone. With just seconds left to play, and under tremendous pressure from the Pirate defense after the snap, the quarterback passed to the left side and it was intercepted byWrzesinski giving the Pirates the ball at the 1 yard line and evaporating Boulder City’s hopes for a game winning touchdown.
Moapa Valley needed to make just one more snap and avoid being tackled in the endzone for the win. Matheson moved behind the center taking the snap and driving forward inches for the win.
The Pirates will travel to Truckee for the state semi-final this Saturday for the right to defend their state title. That game will kick off at 1pm.
