The Pahrump Valley High School girls’ varsity flag football team faced one of the toughest tests on their schedule Friday, December 19, 2025, taking on the Arbor View Aggies during the Mater East tournament. While the scoreboard reflected the challenge of the matchup, the game provided meaningful growth and learning opportunities for a young Lady Trojans squad competing against one of the top programs in the state.
Arbor View, a 5A powerhouse currently ranked No. 2 in Nevada, struck quickly with a score on the opening play to take an early lead. Pahrump Valley responded with effort and adjustments, looking to establish rhythm on offense and settle into the pace of the game. Early pass attempts to Mitzy Godinez drew defensive attention, including a pass interference call that helped move the chains, while Savannah Thompson worked to pick up yardage on the ground.
Despite strong effort, the Aggies capitalized on big plays, including long passing scores and a defensive interception returned for a touchdown, building their lead as the first half progressed. Pahrump Valley continued to compete, rotating players and testing different looks on offense, with Jazmyn Herrera stepping in at quarterback and showing flashes of poise and athleticism. The Lady Trojans mixed in runs from Ma’liyah Collins and connected on several short completions as they worked to move the ball.
The second half saw continued determination from Pahrump Valley, highlighted by strong defensive moments. Diona Nixon came up with key stops, including a pull for a loss and later forcing a turnover on downs. Tiffany Sartin added pressure with a pull of her own, while the defense tightened up at times despite facing constant pressure from the Aggies’ offense. Offensively, Thompson completed passes, Nixon broke free for a long run down the right side of the field, and multiple players continued to battle through every snap until the final whistle.
Head Coach Jeff Corbett emphasized the bigger picture following the game, noting the value of competing against elite talent.
“That Arbor View game was great for us,” Corbett said. “That’s a 5A powerhouse and the number two team in the state, and their coaches were actually impressed with what they saw from us. Games like that help us see the bigger picture of where we’re at and where we need to go.”
Corbett noted that the coaching staff used the matchup to evaluate growth and experiment with personnel on both sides of the ball.
“On defense, we brought Biannet Lozano Chávez up from JV, and she’s really becoming a solid corner,” he said. “She’ll definitely see more varsity time moving forward. Anjolina Mercado also came up with an interception, which was great to see. We’re starting to understand the bigger picture defensively and finding ourselves in the right spots more consistently.”
Offensively, the Lady Trojans continued to explore new combinations, including a quarterback change designed to take advantage of athletic versatility.
“We moved Jazmyn Herrera from middle linebacker to quarterback,” Corbett said. “She’s a varsity soccer goalie, so she’s already used to reading defenses, and she’s got some zip on the ball, too. We also swapped in Diona Nixon on defense to give us more speed.”
Corbett added that Ma’liyah Collins is being used as a true utility player, contributing in multiple roles.
“We’re using Ma’liyah as a utility player on both sides of the ball — bringing her in as a running back and also as a situational third-down player on defense,” he said. “I really like having Savannah as a tall target at wide receiver. She’s consistent and dependable.”
While acknowledging there is still work to be done, Corbett emphasized steady progress.
“We’re still learning how to read defenses and work through our progressions, and that’s going to take time,” he said. “Overall, we’re still trying to find that sweet spot with player personnel, but I truly think we’re getting better.”
Though the matchup was a tough one, the experience gained against one of Nevada’s best teams continues to shape the Lady Trojans as they grow, adjust, and build toward the future.
