By DAVE BELCHER
Moapa Valley Progress
Well, it wasn’t the season opener that Coach Brent Lewis had wanted. The Moapa Valley High School Varsity Football team started its season on Friday night in the same place it had started last year: at Sierra Vista High School in Las Vegas. But the game didn’t go at all the same. Last year the Pirates had pulled off a decisive defeat against the Mountain Lions, 35-21. But this year, Sierra Vista capitalized on three Pirate turnovers to end up with a 21-12 win.
“I knew it was going to be rough!” said MVHS Head Coach Brent Lewis after the game.
Lewis was disappointed in the turnovers which had allowed the Mountain Lions to score. Twice the Pirates fumbled inside their own 20 yard line making short fields for the Sierra Vista offense.
The Lions weren’t necessarily the better team Friday night. They just took advantage of Pirate mistakes to win the game.
Lopaka Kolone started the scoring on the Mountain Lions first possession. That started when Moapa Valley junior quarterback Daxton Longman fumbled the ball on a sack at the Pirate 20 yard line. Kolone scored from 4 yards out with 8:11 remaining in the first quarter.
The Pirates punted on their next possession then held Sierra Vista forcing a punt.
Then came the Pirates’ second fumble at the 23 yard line.
On the first play after that, Oscar Aliaga found Jaxson Zibert who caught a 23 yard touchdown pass with 2:25 remaining in the first quarter for a 14-0 Mountain Lion lead.
With about 4 minutes to play in the first half, Moapa Valley had moved the ball from their own 19 yard line to the Mountain Lion 10 with help from Jacob Leavitt’s pass reception of 55 yards. That’s when Longman’s pass, on fourth down with six yards to go, went right through the hands of Derek Reese who was open in the front right corner of the endzone. That turned the ball over again to the Mountain Lions.
Sierra Vista moved the ball to their 19 yard line where, on third down and one with 2:11 to play in the first half, they fumbled the ball.
The Pirates made it to the 7 yard line on 4th and 6. Longman found Reese again. This time Reese caught the ball for the first touchdown of the year.
The extra point fell a yard short and Moapa Valley cut the lead to 14-6 with 8 seconds remaining.
Bryan LaGrange scored from a yard out giving the Lions a 21-6 lead with 4 minutes to play in the third quarter.
Moapa Valley scored their final touchdown when Jacob Leavitt crossed into the endzone from a yard out. The two-point conversion fell short giving the Lions a 21-12 win.
There were positive things that happened in the game for this young, inexperienced team. They made several stops and had a drive that led to a score. No, RJ Hubert isn’t here to carry the Pirates over these first few games, but as the season moves on and as their confidence grows this team will pull it together and contend for the Sunrise title. Longman has a great arm. Braeden St. John and Jacob Leavitt are good running backs. Once the line gets it together the running game will emerge.
On Friday night Moapa Valley had 163 yards total offense. Longman was 14-29 for 177 yards passing and a touchdown. He also had an interception.
The Pirates will have their hands full on Friday night as they open the home season against interstate rival Hurricane, Utah. Freshman and JV games are Thursday starting at 4 PM. The Varsity game is Friday at 7PM.
Hurricane has played two games so far this year and are 1-1 overall. They lost their first game at home against Skyline of Salt Lake City in overtime 28-27.They beat Canyon View of Cedar City in Cedar 20-16 last week.
Hurricane was down 20-0 in the fourth quarter against Skyline when they came back to tie the game and send it to overtime. Skyline won the game as they converted their two point conversion in overtime after Hurricane scored and kicked the extra point. Last year Moapa Valley lost at Hurricane 17-14.
