Valley rallies to defeat Rancho, clinches playoff spot — PHOTOS
By Justin Lafferty Special to the Review-Journal
Valley’s wide receiver DeAndre Gholar (10) runs into the endzone for the game-winning touchdown during the second half of a high school football game against Rancho at Rancho High School on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Valley’s wide receiver DeAndre Gholar (10) dives to catch a pass while Rancho’s defensive back Hat’dige Nichols (6) hits the ground during the second half of a high school football game at Rancho High School on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Valley’s wide receiver DeAndre Gholar (10) attempts to swerve a tackle by Rancho’s defensive back Sajied Koroma (31) and defensive back Crenston Choute (1) as defensive lineman Noah Talty (55) runs up behind them during the first half of a high school football game at Rancho High School on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Rancho’s running back Malik McHugh (41) makes a run for the endzone followed by Valley’s offensive lineman Marcus Mc’Gruder (70) during the first half of a high school football game at Rancho High School on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
In the middle of the scrum, Rancho’s running back Malik McHugh (41) carries the ball 18 yards during the first half of a high school football game against Valley at Rancho High School on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Rancho’s running back Jamaal Greene (2) fumbles during the first half of a high school football game against Valley at Rancho High School on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Valley’s wide receiver DeAndre Gholar (10) attempts to swerve a tackle by Rancho’s defensive back Sajied Koroma (31) and defensive back Crenston Choute (1) as defensive lineman Noah Talty (55) runs up behind them during the first half of a high school football game at Rancho High School on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Rancho’s wide receiver Mason Reams (3) evades a tackle by Valley’s defensive back Kyle Clay (24) during the first half of a high school football game at Rancho High School on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Valley’s running back Davion Duncan (21) safely clears a tackle from Rancho’s defensive back Crenston Choute (1) as defensive back DeAndre Gholar (10) takes down Choute during the first half of a high school football game at Rancho High School on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Rancho’s quarterback Vincent Marcione (5) makes it to the endzone for a touchdown during the first half of a high school football game against Valley at Rancho High School on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Rancho’s wide receiver Hat’dige Nichols (6) falls down from a sack during the first half of a high school football game against Valley at Rancho High School on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Valley’s wide receiver DeAndre Gholar (10) breaks to the endzone for a touchdown during the first half of a high school football game against Rancho at Rancho High School on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Rancho’s Malik McHugh (41), Mason Reams (3) and Crenston Choute (1) celebrate a play during the first half of a high school football game against Valley at Rancho High School on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Rancho’s cheerleading squad cheers for their team as they take the lead during the first half of a high school football game against Valley at Rancho High School on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Valley’s quarterback Tyler Searcy (1) passes next to running back Jariah Pittman (25) during the first half of a high school football game against Rancho at Rancho High School on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Rancho’s defensive back Sajied Koroma (31) takes down Valley’s wide receiver Kyle Clay (24) as he unsuccessfully dives to the endzone during the second half of a high school football game at Rancho High School on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Rancho’s quarterback Vincent Marcione (5) passes during the second half of a high school football game against Valley at Rancho High School on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Valley’s wide receiver Joathan Minani (11) fumbles the ball while Rancho’s defensive back Hat’dige Nichols (6) and defensive back Jamaal Greene (2) close in on him during the second half of a high school football game at Rancho High School on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Rancho’s wide receiver Mason Reams (3) evades a tackle from Valley’s defensive back DeAndre Gholar (10) during the second half of a high school football game at Rancho High School on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. Following behind them are Rancho’s Malik McHugh (41), Valley’s Jakauri Hawkins (20) and Valley’s Elijah Harris (4). (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Valley’s DeAndre Gholar (10) gets a cooler of water dumped on him after leading the team to a win in their high school football game against Rancho at Rancho High School on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. Valley won 12-7. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Valley’s Jakauri Hawkins (20) runs to embrace his teammate DeAndre Gholar (10), who helped lead the team to victory in their high school football game against Rancho at Rancho High School on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. Valley won 12-7. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Valley’s Tyler Searcy (1) and Joathan Minani (11) celebrate a win against Rancho in a high school football game at Rancho High School on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. Valley won 12-7. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Valley’s Tyler Searcy and Deandre Gholar led a drive that high school football dreams are made of in a 12-7 win over Class 3A Mountain League opponent Rancho on Thursday night.
Searcy, a sophomore quarterback, moved the Vikings down the field, culminating in a 1-yard Gholar touchdown run with about a minute left. Gholar was stuffed on two previous plays but came through on third down. He fielded a high snap, then found a clean lane to the end zone.
Rancho made one last drive into Valley territory, but the Vikings defense held steady when it mattered most and helped Valley (3-5, 2-2) clinch a playoff spot and eliminate the Rams from postseason contention.
Searcy finished 14-for-32 for 188 yards and two interceptions. Gholar was Searcy’s main target, hauling in a team-high six catches for 73 yards.
Gholar not only put the exclamation point on the victory but also got Valley onto the board first with a pick-six in the second quarter.
Rancho (2-4, 0-3) appeared to have momentum early in the second quarter. After Rams defensive back Dige Nichols picked off a pass and returned it to his 20-yard line, Rancho quarterback Kole Lindholm connected with Mason Reams for a 32-yard pass.
Rancho’s trip into Valley territory was short-lived, however. The drive ended when Gholar snagged a tipped ball and ran 59 yards for the score, putting his team ahead 6-0.
About five minutes later, Rancho’s Vince Marcione, who came on in relief of Lindholm, scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak. Martin Bueno’s PAT gave the Rams a 7-6 lead.
Both teams struggled to gain momentum throughout the game, which saw eight turnovers and plenty of penalties.
Valley finishes its regular season at home next week against Pahrump Valley. Rancho travels to Western.
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