Led by MVP Weiss, Moapa Valley hauls in Class 3A all-state football awards

That’s because — like the all-league selections — Moapa Valley took four of the top five awards when coaches voted on the selections last week.

The Pirates landed Most Valuable Player (Brad Weiss), Coach of the Year (Brent Lewis), co-Defensive Player of the Year (Jake Pearce) and Lineman of the Year (Tyler Lomprey).

Weiss, a senior running back, rushed for a school-record 1,815 yards and 23 touchdowns this season in helping Moapa Valley wrap a 10-2 season with its second straight 3A state title.

Pearce, a junior linebacker who shared Defensive Player of the Year with Truckee linebacker Ryan MacKen, had 109 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions.

Lomprey, a senior defensive tackle/offensive lineman, had 49 tackles and nine sacks. He also anchored an offensive line that helped the Pirates average nearly 250 yards rushing per game.

Weiss is the Pirates’ first 3A state MVP in Lewis’ seven-year tenure.

“It’s a credit not just to him but to his teammates,” Lewis said. “He was a major force offensively and defensively.

“I think every running back will tell you their O-line is a major factor in (success). He’s the type of kid who hits a hole. He’s a strong kid who can burst through a hole and break tackles.”

Weiss, who also started at defensive back, had 35 tackles and three interceptions. He scored 26 touchdowns overall.

Lewis said Weiss and Lomprey are being looked at by Southern Utah, UNLV and Weber State.

“Our kids represented Moapa well,” Lewis said. “We had a phenomenal year, and going back-to-back was a great achievement for our kids.”

Offensive Player of the Year went to Fernley quarterback Bryce Baker.

The first-team offense is comprised of: Baker; running backs Weiss, Mike Kendricks (Fernley) and Colton Teerlink (Virgin Valley); wide receivers Jonathan Gleave (Virgin Valley) and Brian Roberts (Truckee); tight end Zach Horlacher (Virgin Valley); and linemen Lomprey, Travis Dwyer (Truckee), Travis Ozaki (Moapa Valley), Dillon Crosby (Truckee) and Cameron Lim (Moapa Valley).

The first-team defense consists of: linebackers Pearce, MacKen and Chris Parker (Virgin Valley); linemen Riley Staley (Moapa Valley), Andrew Richson (Fernley), Lomprey, Crosby and Andrew Andersen (Moapa Valley); and defensive backs Weiss, David Sperry (Faith Lutheran), A.J. Ackerman (Truckee) and Dallin Seely (Moapa Valley).

The first-team specialists were kicker Joe Portaro (Faith Lutheran), punter Max Jenkins (Moapa Valley) and kick returner Matt Newton (Moapa Valley).