By LOU MARTIN
The Progress
The Virgin Valley High School Football team led for most of their matchup against SLAM on Friday night in the semifinal round of the 3A regional playoffs. But two unfortunate Bulldog turnovers late in the game gave SLAM 15 points in the final period resulting in a big win for the Bulls. The win moved the Bulls into the 3A State championships and ended the season for the Bulldogs.
Friday’s matchup found the Dawgs getting on the scoreboard first on a one-yard keeper by quarterback Gunner Cortez and a point-after kick from Kurt Felix.
The Bulls star running back Daniel Nevil then scored on a long run to tie the game 7-7 with three minutes left in the first period.
A big return set up the Bulldogs second score. Chase Otteson took a 19 yard toss from Cortez giving the Dawgs a 14-7 lead after the successful extra point kick.
The Bulls took the ensuing kickoff to their 35 yard marker as the first period ended. A minute later the Bulls were on the Bulldogs 20 yard line. Nevil finished the drive for the Bulls tying the score at 14s early in the second period.
The Bulldogs began a drive on their own 41 yard line with 5 minutes left in the half. Three plays later found the Dawgs on the Bulls 3 yard line with a minute remaining in the period. The Dawgs lost two yards on their next play before Cortez hit Otteson again for a 5 yard T.D. strike. The half ended with the Dawgs on top 21-14.
The Bulls began the second half from their 10 yard line after the Bulldog kickoff. Three plays later the Bulls drove to the Dawgs 45 yard line. The Dawgs defense stiffened forcing a fourth down with 7 minutes to play in the third period. The Bulls completed a big pass to the Dawgs 18 yard line setting up a first down.
Then Bulls Q.B. Donnel Colbert hit Andre Cade for a 19 yard touchdown. The extra point try was no good and the Dawgs still led 21-20 with six minutes remaining in the period.
The Dawgs had another good kickoff return to start their next drive on the Bulls 40 yard marker. They scored again on a 17 yard pass from Cortez to Jared Jensen with less than a minute to go in the third increasing the Dawgs lead to 28-20.
The fateful fourth quarter began with the Bulls on the Dawgs 45 yard line. The Bulls rushed to the 34 yard line and a new set of downs. But the Bulldogs forced a fourth and long from their 28 yard line. The Bulls met the challenge with a first and goal from the Dawgs 5 yard line. Then Q.B. Colbert took it the rest of the way on a keeper. The 2 point rushing conversion was good by Chysten Tabangcura tying the game at 28-28.
The Bulldogs were stopped by a blocked punt giving the Bulls possession on the Dawgs 39 yard line. The Bulldogs defense held the Bulls on their 20 yard line forcing a field goal attempt which sailed wide.
The Dawgs then drove to the 41 yard line. But an interception gave the Bulls a first down on the Virgin Valley 40 yard line with less than two minutes to play. The Bulls wasted no time as Nevil got his third T.D. of the game giving the Bulls a 35-28 advantage with under a minute to play.
The Bulldogs attempted to tie the match. But they fell short on two ‘Hail Mary’ attempts.
Despite the loss, the Bulldogs finished the season with a good 8-3 record.
“It was an exciting game,” said VVHS Head Coach Matt Woods. “Best game we played all year. But they were big and physical. Their Q.B. was very athletic and tough. The turnovers stopped us and could not make enough offensive plays. Losing Frieling and Waite didn’t help. Our seniors played strong the whole game.”
S.L.A.M. will host the north’s second seed Spring Creek Saturday at Las Vegas High School.
The home side of Pirate stadium were also Bulldog fans on Friday night. A win for Virgin Valley would have meant that Moapa Valley would host the State Semifinal round this Saturday. But with the loss, the Pirates will travel to Truckee to face the Wolverines on Saturday afternoon at 1 pm.
The Bulldogs will return their quarterback Cortez and receiver Otteson, plus their offensive line, next year as a good nucleus.
