Moapa Valley braces for retooled Fernley in 3A state football semifinal

Brent Lewis is trying not to think of his team’s season opener as a clear-cut playoff preview.

In that game, the Moapa Valley football coach watched his team roll to a 33-14 home win over Fernley in which the Pirates piled up more than 400 yards of offense.

Moapa Valley (8-2) hosts Fernley (6-4) again at 1 p.m. Saturday in a Class 3A state semifinal game. The winner will advance to the title game Nov. 22 at Arbor View.

“We’re going to see a little different Fernley team,” Lewis said. “They’re going to be a little tougher. Defensively, they’re running the same thing; they’re just running it better.”

The Vaqueros gave up an average of 27 points in their first three games — all losses.

But they’ve stiffened to allow an average of only 7.5 points in their last four games — all wins, including two shutouts.

Lewis also is concerned with stopping Fernley quarterback Bryce Baker.

“He’s as dangerous on his feet as he is throwing it,” Lewis said. “What worries me most is the quarterback scrambling. Keeping him in the pocket is going to be key.”

Moapa Valley earned the right to play at home with a 35-20 road win over rival Virgin Valley on Oct. 30.

Since splitting their first four games, the Pirates have rattled off six straight wins, averaging more than 41 points per game. They eliminated Faith Lutheran last week, 41-21.

“We’ve been solid,” Lewis said. “We’ve been good against the run. We’ve improved a lot of our pass coverage.”

Offensively, running back Brad Weiss continues to buoy the Pirates.

The fourth-year starter has rushed for 1,504 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also has picked off three passes as a starting defensive back and has scored 20 TDs overall.

“It’s always been our approach to get the ball to (Weiss) 20 to 25 times a game,” Lewis said. “We’re pretty successful when we do that.

“Brad has been really on a mission this year. He kind of has a chip on his shoulder not getting a lot of (recruiting) looks from a lot of places.”

It wouldn’t hurt to lead the Pirates to a second straight 3A state title.

But Moapa Valley isn’t yet looking forward to a possible state title rematch with Virgin Valley, Lewis said.

“We haven’t talked about it at all,” he said. “Our focus is on Fernley.”

Virgin Valley at Truckee — South No. 2 seed Virgin Valley (9-2) visits North No. 1 Truckee (8-2) at 1 p.m. Saturday.

The Bulldogs eliminated Boulder City, 39-20, last week in a game that left coach Kirk Hafen less than thrilled.

“I thought we got outplayed in the first half,” he said. “In the second half, we came out, and they turned the ball over a couple times and gave us momentum.”

Still, here the Bulldogs sit, one win from a state-title rematch with Moapa Valley.

Hafen has been working with his team to try to slow a Wolverines wing-T offense that has seen nine players rush for more than 100 yards this season.

“I’m anticipating a defensive game, a defensive battle,” he said. “That’s their strong suit. They like to run the ball. I think it’s going to be a low-scoring affair.”

Offensively, the Bulldogs have adjusted well to playing without starting receiver Anthony Morris, who is done for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

The injury has given even more of a chance for Jonathan Gleave to shine.

In his past two games, the senior slot back has caught 11 passes for 157 yards and three touchdowns. He also scored on a 90-yard interception return last week.

Gleave has rushed for 437 yards and five TDs this season.

“Just phenomenal,” Hafen said of Gleave’s past two games. “He’s just a real good athlete on both sides.

“Teams are having to double cover him on offense, which opens up some other areas. He’s still catching touchdowns even though he’s double covered. He’s something else.”