Graney: Small-school version of Bishop Gorman back on top — PHOTOS
They arrived at Allegiant Stadium at 7:15 a.m. in a big yellow school bus, because why wouldn’t kids from the rural town of Alamo — 90 minutes north of Las Vegas — do so?
They arrived with a hunger. A purpose.
This might be old hat in the history of Pahranagat Valley football, but even the best of programs can discover a sense of motivation every now and then. The Panthers had such Tuesday. They made the most of it.
A year after dropping the Class 1A state championship, Pahranagat Valley again sits on the small-school mountaintop.
It played all sorts of stellar defense in defeating Tonopah 28-6.
They just win
It was at this time last year when the Panthers (13-0) found themselves on the short end of a 34-32 finals loss to Eureka. It was in July, at the start of training camp, when Pahranagat Valley players vowed not to repeat such a result.
“It’s huge any year you win it,” Panthers coach Brett Hansen said. “I’m super excited for these kids, these seniors. Every year is its own team, its own season. Each one is special.
“We definitely accept the challenge. Kudos to the coaches before me who got this thing rolling. I’m just trying to keep it on the tracks. We always talk about pressure being a privilege. We invite expectations. We embrace them and welcome them.”
This is the success of which he speaks: Pahranagat Valley won its record 24th state title, more than even mighty Bishop Gorman. The Panthers have now captured 15 championships at the 1A level since 2005.
This is the program that won 104 straight games between 2008-16, the longest in state history and one that has been recognized as the longest in high school football history in the eight-man division.
These guys just win.
It’s something for them, this opportunity to get in that big yellow school bus and travel to play in an NFL stadium. Something all the prep players who competed over four games Tuesday covet. Something each will remember forever.
“It’s so cool for us, having this great an opportunity,” Panthers quarterback Jesse Stewart said. “For us to be here in this huge stadium where the Raiders play … we’re all farmers, we’re all ranchers, we’re all cowboys. To come here and play is so special.”
It didn’t really go as most planned given how explosive both teams had been all season. The Panthers entered having averaged 46.5 points. Tonopah (10-2) averaged 50.5.
It was scoreless after a quarter, and Pahranagat Valley led 12-6 at halftime. Not what anyone expected.
But when you’re responsible in your reads and gaps and fly to the ball as the Panthers did, you can hold the highest of scoring sides down. That’s how Pahranagat Valley won its latest title.
It helps when you create turnovers, and the winners did that as well. Ryder Pearson is a senior who collected a fumble recovery and interception. The Panthers then turned both miscues into touchdowns.
“It turned the tide for us, so that felt great,” Pearson said. “Having done this after last year means so much to all of us. We worked so hard for this. Having those (expectations) can be tough sometimes, but at the same time, we wanted this really bad. We’ve basically got the whole town here.”
Small school Gorman
Stewart was more than capable running things, accounting for 217 total yards. He threw for two touchdowns and ran for a 72-yard score. He was a leader in every sense.
“It’s amazing to be here, especially for a school from small-town Nevada,” Hansen said. “You can’t ask for much more than this. This means the world to our kids. None of my kids are going to play at the next level. This is it for them right here. To come into this facility, nowhere like other places, is everything.”
The small-school version of mighty Bishop Gorman.
“We still have a ways to go for that,” Hansen said, “but I’ll take the compliment.”
Then his players posed for pictures and held aloft another state trophy and waved to their families in the stands and passed out countless hugs.
Then they departed the field, a big yellow school bus awaiting its champions.
Ed Graney, a Sigma Delta Chi Award winner for sports column writing, can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com. He can be heard on “The Press Box,” ESPN Radio 100.9 FM and 1100 AM, from 7 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday. Follow @edgraney on X.