The Pahrump Valley High School varsity football team produced an early lead, two touchdown drives and several determined defensive stands against the Moapa Valley Pirates on Friday, Oct. 9, during a Homecoming evening filled with recognition and school spirit. Preston Dockter scored both Trojan touchdowns in the 37-16 loss, while halftime brought the crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen and performances connecting current students with returning alumni.
Before kickoff, PVHS recognized its 2026 Hall of Fame inductees: Jeremy Albertson, Jackie Stobbe, Fred Schmidt, Morgan White, Dave Harris and Jill Harris. Jeremy Albertson was unable to attend due to the birth of his child earlier that day. Atom and Whitney Hoffman were honored as Teachers of the Game and accompanied the Trojan captains onto the field for the coin toss. Senior Alexis Clouser performed the National Anthem a cappella, and the Pahrump Valley Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol presented the colors.
On the field, Pahrump’s offense moved the ball through hard-earned carries and completions to multiple receivers, while the defense supplied a first-quarter interception and several stops that gave the Trojans additional opportunities.
Moapa Valley began its opening possession at the 35-yard line after the kickoff went out of bounds. Lucas Gavenda forced a receiver out of bounds following a completion, and Kain Johnson stopped a carry for a loss to put the Pirates in second-and-11. An incomplete pass and a tackle by Billy Sparks left Moapa Valley just short of a first down, but the Pirates converted on their next carry.
Gavenda added another stop, and Angel Ware brought down a receiver near the five-yard line before Moapa Valley scored on a run with 9:16 remaining in the first quarter. The extra-point attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the Pirates ahead 6-0.
Pahrump began its response at the 43-yard line after Moapa Valley’s onside kick went out of bounds. Ware caught a nine-yard pass, and Dockter followed with a carry for a first down. Another completion to Ware gained six yards before the Trojans eventually faced fourth-and-one. An offsides penalty against the Pirates gave Pahrump a fresh set of downs.
The Trojans continued moving forward with a nine-yard completion to Gavenda and a first-down carry by Ryan Hamlin after he took the snap. An interception near the goal line ended the drive, but Pahrump’s defense quickly created another chance.
Iyan Bosket stopped a Pirate carry before Ware intercepted a pass, giving the Trojans possession inside the five-yard line. Dockter carried the ball into the end zone with 3:49 remaining, and Trae Plein added the two-point conversion on a run to the right. The sequence turned a missed scoring opportunity into an 8-6 Pahrump lead.
Moapa Valley advanced again before the quarter ended, with Johnson contributing tackles as the Pirates moved into scoring position. Ware covered an incomplete pass early in the second quarter, but Moapa Valley finished the possession with a touchdown and two-point conversion at the 10:59 mark to move ahead 14-8.
Plein returned the ensuing kickoff to the 32-yard line, and the Trojans put together another sustained drive. Dockter gained three yards on a carry, while a completion to Paul Walker produced a substantial gain before a personal foul penalty brought the ball back.
Pahrump continued working forward. Ware caught a pass across the middle to the 46-yard line for a first down, and Walker added another first-down reception to the Pirates’ 34. After a lateral pass to Hamlin lost two yards, Dockter broke through the middle and carried the ball to the 12-yard line with 7:12 remaining in the half.
The Trojans took shots toward the end zone, but the possession ended on downs at the 14-yard line. The defense responded by limiting Moapa Valley’s next series. Hunter Wydick stopped a carry for no gain, Gavenda tackled a receiver, and Gideon Wydick held another run to a two-yard pickup. A false-start penalty and another defensive stop helped force a Pirate punt.
Dockter gained seven yards on Pahrump’s next possession and followed with a first-down carry. A holding penalty pushed the Trojans back, however, and a pass that bounced out of a receiver’s hands was intercepted with 1:43 left in the half.
Moapa Valley used the late possession to add to its lead. Cade Wulfenstein, Gideon Wydick and Ware contributed tackles during the drive, but the Pirates reached the end zone on a quarterback keeper with 17.9 seconds remaining. The successful two-point conversion made it 22-8 at halftime.
The break brought the Homecoming celebration to center stage. With the announcement of the court, Sydney Crotty and Ben Cimperman were crowned Queen and King, marking one of the evening’s signature moments and giving the two students a special place in PVHS’s 2026 Homecoming memories.
The performances kept the celebration moving, beginning with a combined dance by the PVHS cheer and dance teams. Bringing both groups together gave the halftime program a shared showcase of Trojan spirit before the dance team took the spotlight for its own performance.
The alumni dance added another meaningful connection to the evening as former dance team members who have graduated returned to perform. Alongside the current team’s routines and the royal court announcement, their participation made halftime a celebration of both today’s Trojans and those who have helped carry PVHS traditions through the years.
When play resumed, Moapa Valley recovered the opening kickoff of the second half. Walker stopped a carry for no gain, but the Pirates followed with a touchdown pass and successful extra point to extend their lead to 29-8 with 11:02 remaining in the third quarter.
Plein returned the next kickoff to the 26-yard line. Ware caught a four-yard pass, and Dockter powered up the middle to the 48-yard line. The drive eventually stalled, bringing the Trojan defense back onto the field.
Pahrump answered with pressure on the Pirate quarterback. After an incomplete pass, Alejandro Rayas stopped a keeper for a small gain. Hunter Wydick and Walker then combined on a sack, forcing Moapa Valley into fourth-and-20 with 6:45 remaining.
The Pirates recovered a fumbled punt return, but the Trojans refused to give up points on the ensuing possession. Sparks recorded a sack, and Walker added a tackle on a carry. On fourth down, Walker stopped the quarterback keeper for a loss, giving Pahrump possession with 4:41 left in the quarter.
That stand set up the Trojans’ second scoring drive. A completion to Hamlin and a Dockter carry preceded a fourth-down incompletion, but a pass interference penalty against Moapa Valley extended the possession.
Pahrump then mixed up its attack. Hamlin took a handoff and threw a pass to Gavenda, and a subsequent completion to Ware put the Trojans in a first-and-goal situation. Dockter took over near the goal line, carrying on three consecutive plays and reaching the end zone with 1:12 remaining.
Anthony Montanez ran in the two-point conversion, cutting the deficit to 29-16 and rewarding the defense’s fourth-down stop with eight points.
Moapa Valley answered with a long touchdown run and another successful two-point conversion with 57.4 seconds left in the third quarter, making the score 37-16.
Pahrump continued working in the fourth. A completion to Gavenda late in the third quarter brought the Trojans close to a first down, and Dockter picked it up with a carry through the middle after the teams changed ends. The possession eventually ended on downs, but the defense continued making the Pirates earn their yardage.
Bosket stopped a carry, Hamlin tackled a receiver, and Hunter Wydick brought down a runner for a one-yard loss. Penalties against Moapa Valley also pushed the Pirates back during the possession. On fourth down, Pahrump held a carry short of the first-down marker, reclaiming the ball with 3:44 remaining.
Hamlin added another reception on the Trojans’ final possession. A pass interference penalty against the Pirates erased an interception and advanced Pahrump, but a later interception ended the drive. Moapa Valley ran out the remaining time.
Dockter’s two touchdowns, Ware’s takeaway, both successful two-point conversions and several defensive stands gave Pahrump meaningful plays to build on. Around the game, the Hall of Fame recognition, teacher honors, Homecoming coronation and halftime performances made the evening a shared celebration across generations of Trojans.
*These photos and more are available at pvcnphotos.com.
