The Pahrump Valley High School junior varsity football team brought its season finale down to the closing minutes Friday, Oct. 23, cutting a 16-point deficit to two before falling 16–14 to Boulder City at home. The Trojans held the Eagles scoreless throughout the second half and put together a late drive into Boulder City territory, keeping the outcome unsettled until an interception with just over a minute remaining.
For Pahrump, the evening included several defensive stops, productive stretches on the ground and a touchdown just before halftime that helped change the direction of the game. After trailing 16–0 in the second quarter, the Trojans scored the final 14 points and continued pursuing a go-ahead score late in the fourth.
The opening quarter featured defensive stops on both sides. Boulder City returned the opening kickoff to Pahrump’s 47-yard line, but the Trojans prevented the Eagles from turning that field position into points. After containing a pair of quarterback scrambles and stopping a run to the left, Pahrump forced an incomplete fourth-down pass to take possession near midfield.
The Trojans worked to establish their offense with Carlos Flores carrying the ball and quarterback Stetson Brown extending plays with his feet. A Boulder City offsides penalty helped Pahrump move the chains, and Brown connected with Landon Holzer for another first down. The possession eventually ended on a fourth-down pass that the Eagles batted away.
Pahrump’s defense answered again. Sione Petelo contributed a tackle against the run, and the Trojans tipped a third-down pass, nearly coming away with an interception before forcing a punt.
Penalties interrupted Pahrump’s next possession, erasing gains and leaving the offense facing long-yardage situations. Brown eventually punted, and Holzer made the tackle on the return at the Trojans’ 29-yard line.
Boulder City’s favorable starting position again produced no points. Early in the second quarter, Jamarcus Vega quickly closed on a completed pass to limit the gain to a yard, leaving the Eagles facing fourth-and-seven. Pahrump regained possession after Boulder City’s unsuccessful fourth-down attempt.
The Trojans then began moving the ball. Flores slipped through the middle for a substantial gain to the Eagles’ 44-yard line, and Brown found Holzer on a short completion. Vega followed with a run to the 24 for another first down with approximately seven minutes remaining in the half.
Flores added four yards, but a pass intended for Kelan Sheppard in the end zone was broken up. A false start and a stop against Brown stalled the possession, and Boulder City blocked Pahrump’s ensuing punt with 5:13 left in the second quarter.
The Eagles broke the scoreless tie on that possession, finishing with a touchdown run down the sideline at the 3:25 mark. A successful two-point conversion put Boulder City ahead 8–0.
Pahrump recovered the ensuing onside kick, but an interception gave the Eagles another scoring opportunity. Cade Castaneda chased down the returner at the Trojans’ 5-yard line, preventing a touchdown on the return. Boulder City scored shortly afterward on a pass into the end zone and added another two-point conversion for a 16–0 lead with 2:08 remaining before halftime.
The Trojans responded with a scoring drive of their own.
Holzer secured Boulder City’s next onside kick, and Vega helped move Pahrump downfield with consecutive carries, including a run to midfield for a first down. Brown added a 17-yard keeper, getting out of bounds with 1:01 remaining, before Flores contributed a seven-yard run and a reception that produced another first down.
With 25.8 seconds left in the half, Brown connected with Connor Witherell in the end zone for Pahrump’s first touchdown. A false start moved the two-point attempt back five yards, but Vega still pushed into the end zone to cut Boulder City’s lead to 16–8.
The Eagles advanced toward midfield in the remaining seconds, but an incomplete pass ended the half with Pahrump within one possession.
Sheppard recovered an onside kick to open the third quarter, giving the Trojans the ball at their own 41. Flores and Vega handled much of the work on the ground as Pahrump moved into Boulder City territory, but an interception ended the possession.
The Trojans’ defense kept that turnover from becoming points. During an extended Eagles possession that included penalties against both teams and a snap over the Boulder City quarterback’s head, Pahrump continued forcing the visitors to earn their yardage. The Trojans broke up a pass and pressured the quarterback into another incompletion before eventually taking over on downs at their own 40-yard line.
From there, Pahrump built the drive that brought the game within two points. A facemask penalty against Boulder City helped the Trojans cross midfield, and Flores followed with a run to the Eagles’ 25. Pahrump continued advancing as the third quarter ended with the score still 16–8.
Early in the fourth, Flores carried to the 8-yard line for a first down. The Trojans moved closer before finishing the possession with a rushing touchdown at the 9:02 mark. The two-point attempt was unsuccessful, leaving Boulder City ahead 16–14.
Pahrump’s defense then delivered another important stop.
After returning the kickoff near midfield, Boulder City picked up first downs and moved into Trojan territory. Everette Southwick disrupted the possession with a tackle behind the line of scrimmage for a five-yard loss. Two incomplete passes left the Eagles facing fourth-and-15, and Lucas Silva sacked the quarterback to give Pahrump the ball at its own 37 with 5:37 remaining.
The Trojans used that opportunity to mount one final scoring threat. Flores and Vega carried the ball before Brown ran beyond the first-down marker on fourth down. A facemask penalty against the Eagles added yardage, moving Pahrump to Boulder City’s 39.
Vega gained five yards, and Flores followed with consecutive carries, picking up another first down as the Trojans worked deeper into Eagles territory. The drive ultimately ended with a Boulder City interception with 1:07 remaining.
Pahrump continued limiting the Eagles on the final possession, including a carry stopped for no gain, but time expired before the Trojans could regain the ball.
The two-point loss closed the JV season with a game in which Pahrump continued creating opportunities after falling behind. A touchdown before halftime, a second-half shutout by the defense and a fourth-quarter scoring drive gave the Trojans a chance to finish their final home game with a comeback, carrying the contest into its last minute.
