Pirates End Season In Loss To Truckee

By DAVE BELCHER

The Progress

The Moapa Valley High School football team traveled to Truckee, California for the 3A State Semifinal game on Saturday, Nov. 12, The Pirates were beaten 35-7 in the game, ending a 26 game win streak.

The loss ended the season for the Pirates. “It was an incredible season,” said MVHS head coach Brent Lewis. “One I will remember for years to come.”

Truckee was the #1 team in the north while the undefeated Pirates were seeded as #2 from the south. SLAM was the top seed despite the fact that the Pirates had beaten SLAM earlier in the season.

Moapa Valley started the game kicking off to Truckee who immediately returned the kick 88 yards for a touchdown with just 13 seconds into the game. Joe Birnbaum returned the kick while Mattew Tanner kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

Each team punted on their next possession but Shandon Matheson dropped the snap on the Pirates next punt, turning the ball over on their own 35 yardline. Truckee missed a 30 yard field goal, turning the ball over to the Pirates at the Moapa 30.

Truckee scored their second touchdown on a 14 yard pass reception by Luke Trotter from Julian Hall. The extra point split the upright for a 14-0 Wolverine lead.

Moapa Valley started on their own 5 yard line after the next Truckee kickoff. Truckee then scored when Reed Lopper caught a tipped ball and took it 19 yards for a pick 6. The extra point gave the Wolverines a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter and into halftime.

Birnbaum scored his second touchdown by catching a Hall pass covering 70 yards. The extra point made it 28-0.

Truckee scored their final touchdown when Dylan Summers caught a Gannon Billings 58 yard pass play.
It was 35-0 by the end of the 3rd quarter.

The Pirates scored their lone touchdown when Landon Wrzesinski ran it in from 9 yards away. Cash Keller kicked the extra point making the final score 35-7.
“I just want our kids and our Pirate community to know how proud my coaching staff and I are of this football team,” Lewis said. “It didn’t end the way we hoped but our heads are held high and we will work to get back there next year! This senior class went 26-1, 26 straight victories setting an MVHS record. When I see how emotional the kids were after the loss, it really hits home how important Pirate football is to these young men!”

On the other side of the bracket, SLAM beat Spring Creek in the state semifinals, 39-8. The game was played at Las Vegas High School.

SLAM and Truckee will face off in the state championship game to be played on Monday, Nov. 21 in Allegiant Stadium.