SMALL SCHOOLS: Defense helps Moapa Valley to key win

MESQUITE — Brad Weiss didn’t see anything too spectacular about his interception return for a touchdown Thursday night.

After all, it was only one of four passes Moapa Valley intercepted as a team.

Weiss picked off two passes and carried 26 times for 132 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Pirates to a crucial 35-20 win at rival Virgin Valley.

“I was just playing outside linebacker and supposed to drop in the flats,” Weiss said of his 23-yard interception return for a score. “I did and (Terran Leavitt) threw it right to me.”

With the win, Moapa Valley (7-2, 3-0) won the Class 3A Southern League regular-season title and earned the South’s No. 1 seed for the 3A state playoffs.

The Pirates thus avoid a trip to a North team’s field for the second round, which could be the position Virgin Valley (8-2, 2-1) finds itself in.

Moapa Valley also retained the coveted hammer it won from Virgin Valley in last year’s 3A state title game.

Both teams will open the postseason at home next week — Moapa Valley against Faith Lutheran and Virgin Valley against Boulder City.

“It’s really exciting, especially the biggest part — not having to travel up north for the first round of the state playoffs,” said Weiss, a senior. “That’s a big thing for us.”

Max Jenkins and Jake Pearce also picked off passes for Moapa Valley.

“They throw the ball well and we were able to make a few plays,” Pirates coach Brent Lewis said of the four interceptions. “To get a score defensively too, that’s a great tribute to our kids.”

The Bulldogs struggled offensively without standout receiver Anthony Morris, who said he is likely done for the season with a torn ACL.

Leavitt completed 13 of 24 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions for Virgin Valley, which was also picked off on Ty Tait’s halfback pass.

“I thought our defense held its own,” Virgin Valley coach Kirk Hafen said. “We just gave them the ball in too good field position.”

Jonathan Gleave caught seven passes for 115 yards and two TDs for Virgin Valley.

The Bulldogs, though, were stifled for 17 yards rushing on 18 attempts.

“In the second half our kids stepped up and took control,” said Lewis, whose team outscored the Bulldogs 21-6 after halftime. “We were a little more physical in that second half than they were, I thought.”

Pearce carried six times for 63 yards and two TDs and Jenkins completed 7 of 18 passes for 85 yards for Moapa Valley.

Weiss wouldn’t mind playing the Bulldogs again.

The two teams have played five times in the past three years, and have split the past two 3A state titles.

“Always, between us and Virgin, there’s a possibility of meeting in the state championship game,” Weiss said. “Hopefully we do. It’d be fun.”

Mountain View 40, White Pine 8 — At Mountain View, Raymond Velarde completed all 10 pass attempts, rushed for 82 yards and had a hand in four touchdowns as the Saints qualified for the Class 2A Southern League playoffs in their first year of 11-man football.

Mountain View (4-6, 4-3) blanked White Pine (2-7, 2-5) on eight possessions, limiting the Bobcats to 118 yards of offense. Their touchdown came on Dallas Lewis’ 3-yard fumble return.

Saints running back Cortland LeBoeuf ran for a 71-yard touchdown on the second play of Mountain View’s first possession. He finished with 103 yards on seven carries. Velarde passed for three touchdowns and ran for one.

“Our talent is spread across the field,” Saints coach Ray LeBoeuf said. “(Teams) can’t focus on just one player, so that keeps defenses honest.”

The Meadows 42, West Wendover 8 — At West Wendover, Pat Kenny rushed for 120 yards and three touchdowns and also caught a TD pass to help the Mustangs (8-2, 6-1 Class 2A Southern League) build a 42-0 lead through three quarters.

Kenny scored on runs of 4, 28 and 4 yards and caught a 5-yard touchdown pass. Quarterback Gerard Martinez was 16-of-25 for 151 yards, also throwing a 12-yard TD pass to Austin Brown.

Brown added a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown.

West Wendover (1-8, 1-6) scored on a 35-yard pass from Brandon Hoston to Junior Rodriguez.

Desert Oasis 28, Boulder City 27 — At Desert Oasis, quarterback Brennen Stott and wideout Elijah Mitchell hooked up for the tying touchdown with 1:07 left in regulation and the winning score in overtime, lifting the Diamondbacks over the Eagles.

Boulder City got the ball first in the extra session and scored on a 3-yard run by quarterback Jake Phillips. But the extra-point try missed wide right.

Stott, who sent the game to overtime with a 30-yard TD pass to Mitchell, found him again for an 11-yard score. Stott also booted the decisive extra point.

He finished with 150 yards passing and two touchdowns. Desert Oasis running back Dominique Banks rushed for 87 yards and two scores.

Phillips led the Eagles with 90 yards passing.

Lincoln County 73, Calvary Chapel 26 — At Panaca, Trent Tibbits led an explosive rushing attack with 142 yards and four touchdowns as Lincoln County (7-3, 6-1 Class 2A Southern League) pulled away after leading 30-20 at halftime.

The Lynx, The Meadows and Needles finished in a three-way tie for first place in the league, with Lincoln County receiving the South’s top seed for the state playoffs because of a tiebreaker.

Kade Lee had 81 rushing yards and a touchdown. Tyler Center ran for 60 yards and a score as the Lynx racked up 386 yards on the ground.

Eric Rippetoe had a touchdown pass for Lincoln County, which also scored on defensive touchdowns by Travis Sonnenberg (fumble return) and Logan Reifsnyder (interception return).

Calvary Chapel finished 3-6, 2-5.

Indian Springs 54, Spring Mountain 36 — At Indian Springs, Adam Reinke threw for 209 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for a 30-yard score to help the Thunderbirds (5-4, 3-3 Southern League) clinch the South’s final playoff spot in Class 1A.

Indian Springs built a 29-0 halftime lead and ran the margin to 41-0 on Junior Baker’s 85-yard kickoff return and Reinke’s 10-yard pass to Nick Vandever, who also scored on a 34-yarder.

Baker hauled in a 59-yard scoring strike from Reinke and rushed for 149 yards and a score.

David Edwards had two touchdown runs and a TD catch for Spring Mountain (3-6, 2-4).

Pahranagat Valley 59, Round Mountain 0 — At Round Mountain, Taylor Poulsen rushed for 192 yards and three touchdowns and threw for 138 yards and a score as Pahranagat Valley (9-0, 6-0) won the Class 1A Southern League regular season title.

The Panthers outgained Round Mountain, 525 yards to 50 and racked up 359 yards on the ground.

Jensen Jones had 60 rushing yards and a touchdown for the Panthers. Brady Whipple had three catches for 63 yards and a score.

Round Mountain finished the regular season 5-4, 4-2.

Tonopah 76, Beatty 12 — At Tonopah, the Muckers (6-3, 5-1 1A Southern League) took a 56-0 first-half lead and cruised to the win over the Hornets (2-7, 1-5).

Scott Thibodeaux rushed for four first-half touchdowns to lead the charge before Tonopah emptied its bench. Thibodeaux finished with 119 yards on 10 carries, and also returned a kickoff 55 yards for a score.

Denver Otteson added 80 rushing yards and a touchdown, and led the defense with 12 tackles.