Preston Dockter ran for his third touchdown of the night in the final minute, and Anthony Montanez followed with the go-ahead two-point conversion as Pahrump Valley High School defeated Virgin Valley 30–29 in a regional semifinal Friday, Nov. 6, in Pahrump. The Trojans took the lead with 35 seconds remaining, then stopped the Bulldogs on fourth down with five seconds left to secure a spot in the Class 3A state semifinals.
Virgin Valley opened with a kickoff return to the Pahrump 45-yard line. Gideon Wydick made a tackle for no gain, but the Bulldogs found room around the left side for the first touchdown of the night. The extra point missed, leaving Virgin Valley ahead 6–0.
Kain Johnson returned the ensuing kickoff to the Pahrump 35. Dockter picked up six yards on the ground, and a completion to Ryan Hamlin gave the Trojans a first down at their 48. Paul Walker added a short catch before Virgin Valley intercepted a pass at its own 39.
The Bulldogs moved into Trojan territory on a long run that ended with a Lucas Gavenda tackle. Walker then dropped the quarterback for a 10-yard loss, putting Virgin Valley in third-and-long. A short completion on the next play left the Bulldogs well shy of the first down, and they punted.
Pahrump took over at its 20 with 4:26 left in the first quarter. Hamlin kept the ball for a first down at the 31, and the Trojans followed a six-yard completion with a deep pass to Angel Ware that reached the Virgin Valley 19. Dockter worked his way out of traffic and around the right side for the touchdown. The two-point try came up short, leaving the game tied 6–6 with 1:02 left in the quarter.
Virgin Valley threatened again early in the second quarter, but Johnson intercepted a pass in the end zone. The Trojans took over at their 20, where quarterback Evan Strain ran left for 12 yards. Pahrump then went to a trick play. Hamlin caught a pass in the right flat and threw downfield to Gavenda for a touchdown. Montanez ran in the conversion to give the Trojans a 14–6 lead.
Virgin Valley answered with a drive that included a long run to the Pahrump 22. The Bulldogs scored on a pass and completed another pass for two points, tying the game at 14. Strain scrambled left for a first down on Pahrump’s next possession, then went left again for six yards. Dockter carried for another first down at the Virgin Valley 46, and a completion moved the Trojans to the 27. Pahrump eventually faced fourth-and-5, and a completed pass came up short of the first-down marker.
Gavenda brought down a runner behind the line for a three-yard loss on the Bulldogs’ next possession, but Virgin Valley moved the chains through the air and reached the Pahrump 28 with 33 seconds left. Hunter Wydick broke up a deep pass, and the Bulldogs ran twice to reach the 10. Their quarterback scrambled and found a receiver in the end zone. The extra point gave Virgin Valley a 21–14 halftime lead.
Dockter opened the second half with an eight-yard run, and Strain kept the ball for a first down before an interception ended the Trojans’ drive. Virgin Valley moved the ball through the air, but Iyan Bosket stopped a run for no gain, and an end-zone pass fell incomplete. The Bulldogs came away empty when a 38-yard field goal attempt struck the crossbar.
Pahrump’s next possession ended in a punt, but the Bulldogs fumbled after picking up the rolling ball and trying to return it, Trojans recovered, taking over at the Virgin Valley 11. Dockter carried to the 5, then to the 1 before taking it in on his third straight run. Montanez ran in the two-point conversion to put Pahrump ahead 22–21 with 2:46 left in the third quarter.
Virgin Valley drove into Trojan territory late in the third. Gideon Wydick batted down a pass, but the Bulldogs followed with a deep completion. They opened the fourth quarter facing second-and-12 at the Pahrump 21 after a false start. Walker helped bring down the quarterback for a loss, and the Trojans regained possession with 10:09 to play.
A holding penalty brought back a long Dockter run on Pahrump’s next drive. Strain found Gavenda over the middle, but the catch left the Trojans three yards short of a first down. A short punt gave Virgin Valley the ball at the Pahrump 31 with 8:12 remaining.
Cade Wulfenstein made a tackle on a run to the right, and Bosket helped stop the Bulldogs on third-and-1. Virgin Valley converted on fourth down with a toss to the left to set up first-and-goal. The Bulldogs scored on a pitch to the right and ran in the conversion, taking a 29–22 lead with 4:07 left.
Montanez returned the ensuing kickoff to the Pahrump 43. A completion to Ware and a late-hit penalty moved the ball to the Virgin Valley 30. Strain then scrambled left and found Walker along the sideline for a first down at the 20.
Two Dockter carries left Pahrump facing third-and-6. Hamlin ran left on the next play, but a holding penalty pushed the Trojans back. With 52 seconds left and Pahrump facing third-and-14, the Trojans came to the line before calling timeout.
Dockter took the next handoff up the middle and picked up the first down. The Trojans hurried back to the line, and Dockter went up the middle again for the touchdown, cutting the deficit to 29–28.
Virgin Valley called timeout before the conversion. When play resumed, Montanez took the snap and ran it in for his third two-point conversion of the night, giving the Trojans a 30–29 lead with 35 seconds remaining.
The Bulldogs started their final possession at their 40. Hamlin made the tackle on a five-yard catch to the right, and Virgin Valley called timeout with 26 seconds left. A pass fell incomplete, and the Trojans stopped a screen for no gain to bring up fourth-and-5. Pahrump made the stop with five seconds remaining, and the offense returned to the field to take a knee.
“Friday’s game was one of the most exciting games I’ve ever been a part of,” head coach Toby Henry said. “These young men have been working hard and deserve a win like that. Beating Virgin Valley is a tough task and to beat them twice in one year is even tougher. Our guys were up for the challenge and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
“It wasn’t a perfect performance by any means, but the boys fought through adversity and did what needed to be done to get the win,” defensive coordinator Mike Colucci added.
The playoff game also marked the Southern Nevada Officials Association’s annual Veterans Day recognition. The association selected Pahrump’s home semifinal for its military crew, whose 12 members represented 153 combined years of service. Marine Corps veteran John Hathaway served as referee. The crew included five military retirees and one active-duty service member, Air Force Chief Master Sgt. David Liddell, who worked on the chains.
The Pahrump Valley Kiwanis Club and Rotary Club arranged to cover admission for the first 50 veterans. The evening’s plans also included a red, white and blue student section, Marine Corps veteran Dr. Gent at midfield for the coin toss and PVHS athletics secretary and Air Force veteran Kendra McCauley singing the national anthem.
Pahrump Valley will travel to Fallon to face Churchill County in the Class 3A state semifinals at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Churchill County High School.
Henry described Churchill County as a well-coached team and said the Trojans’ experience against several opponents with size and talent had prepared them for the trip to Fallon.
“Our guys need to just fly around and play football,” Henry said. “Football is a fun game and when you get to play the defending state champs, it’s even more fun. It’s a great opportunity for our team and I wouldn’t want to coach any other team in this situation.”
“Churchill is a well-coached team with talented players,” Colucci added. “Our coaches will have a sound game plan and the boys are motivated to play their best game of the season this Saturday. It will be a great environment for playoff football!”
