SMALL SCHOOLS: Gleave’s three touchdowns lead Virgin Valley past Faith Lutheran
Jonathan Gleave had heard the talk that this was to be a rebuilding year for the Virgin Valley football team.
The Bulldogs, after all, lost four starting offensive linemen from 2007 and had only eight lettermen returning.
On Friday, Gleave helped Virgin Valley make a statement.
The senior receiver scored three touchdowns, and the visiting Bulldogs held off a furious Faith Lutheran rally to win a Class 3A Southern League showdown, 33-20.
“I think we’re better than everybody thinks,” Gleave said. “We can go as far as we want to if we push it.”
Gleave carried 10 times for 59 yards and two touchdowns and caught three passes for 39 yards and another score.
After Virgin Valley (5-1, 1-0) bolted to a 20-0 first-quarter lead, Faith Lutheran rallied to narrow the deficit to 27-20 at halftime. But the Crusaders (4-2, 0-1) were held scoreless in the second half.
Virgin Valley sacked Faith Lutheran sophomore quarterback Joe Portaro four times for 32 yards in losses.
“They spread it out, and we’re gonna pressure the quarterback,” Virgin Valley coach Kirk Hafen said.
Portaro threw for 229 yards and three touchdowns, but Faith Lutheran was smothered for minus-13 yards on the ground. The Crusaders had no running play go for more than 9 yards.
Meanwhile, Virgin Valley’s diverse wing-T offense helped Colton Teerlink (93 yards) lead a rushing attack that rolled up 190 yards on 35 attempts.
And Virgin Valley quarterback Terran Leavitt kept Faith Lutheran off-balance with 112 yards passing and two TDs through the air. The senior hit Gleave for a 27-yard scoring strike in the first quarter and Anthony Morris with a 37-yard touchdown in the second.
Don Pearson led Faith Lutheran with nine receptions for 134 yards and a score.
The Bulldogs, who are aiming for their first 3A state title since 2006, now sit atop the Southern League with Moapa Valley (3-2, 1-0).
“That’s a good squad right there,” Hafen said of Faith Lutheran. “In our league, every game’s gonna be close.”
Moapa Valley 35, Boulder City 13 — At Overton, Brad Weiss rushed for 253 yards and two touchdowns as the Pirates (3-2, 1-0 3A Southern League) downed the Eagles (3-2, 0-1).
Moapa Valley rushed for 438 yards.
“Our offensive line opened some huge holes out there,” Weiss said. “When you do that and provide cutback lanes, you’re gonna run for this type of yardage.”
Weiss’ younger brother, Kelan, started at quarterback in place of Max Jenkins and was 3-for-7 for 49 yards.
Just before halftime, the Boulder City scored on a 7-yard run by Jeremy Smith to cut the Moapa Valley lead to 13-7.
The Pirates iced the game though by going on a 22-0 run that featured a touchdown each from Weiss, fullback Jake Pearce and fullback Alex Huerta.
Moapa Valley had 487 total yards of offense while Boulder City could only muster 159 yards.
“It felt good to get that type of production from our running game,” Moapa Valley coach Brent Lewis said. “We worked on it all week and while it would have been nice to have aired it out a little more, we’ll take it.”
Tonopah 71, Indian Springs 29 — At Tonopah, Scott Thibodeaux rushed for 155 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Muckers (3-2, 3-0 1A Southern League) over the Thunderbirds (2-3, 0-2).
Mike Dolfin added two rushing TDs and returned an interception 78 yards for another score for Tonopah, which had 491 yards of offense and has scored 146 points in its last two games.
Dolfin also had 14 tackles, including a sack, to lead the defense.
Denver Otteson rushed for 77 yards and a TD, as the Muckers rushed for 10 touchdowns.
Round Mountain 56, Beatty 0 — At Beatty, Cody Burgraff threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score in a 26-point first quarter as Round Mountain (3-2, 2-1 1A Southern League) rolled past the Hornets (2-3, 1-2).
Burgraff added another scoring run in the second quarter as the Knights built a 42-0 halftime lead.
Clint Wilson scored on a 56-yard run and caught one of Burgraff’s TD passes.
Joaquin Ramirez, Mike Hood and Alex Seavy also ran for a touchdown apiece. Will Sweeney caught a TD pass for the Knights.
The Meadows 48, White Pine 13 — At The Meadows, freshman quarterback Gerard Martinez threw for three touchdowns and ran for another to help keep the Mustangs unbeaten in Class 2A Southern League play.
The Meadows (5-1, 3-0) coasted after leading 27-0 at the end of the first quarter and 40-6 at halftime.
Martinez completed 4-of-8 passes for 98 yards and three touchdowns, and carried twice for 72 yards and one score.
Needles 27, Lincoln County 16 — At Needles, Calif., the Mustangs (4-1, 3-0) held onto a 20-8 halftime lead to win the Class 2A Southern League game.
Lincoln County (3-3, 2-1) totaled 460 yards of offense, but scored just twice.
Trent Tibbitts rushed for 124 yards to lead Lincoln County.
Calvary Chapel 12, West Wendover 7 — At Mountain View, the Lions held on to a 12-7 halftime lead to improve to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the Class 2A Southern League.
