The Pahrump Valley High School varsity football team took the lead early in the fourth quarter and protected it with a series of defensive stops, defeating the Virgin Valley Bulldogs 21-14 on Friday, Sept. 25, in Mesquite.
Quarterback Wyatt Cross threw touchdown passes to Angel Ware and Lucas Gavenda, Preston Dockter scored on the ground, and Aaron Rily made all three extra points. The Trojans’ defense forced multiple turnovers on downs and came away with a fourth-quarter interception.
Pahrump’s defense faced a test on Virgin Valley’s opening possession. Iyan Bosket and Gavenda helped slow the Bulldogs’ ground game, while Kain Johnson broke up a pass on third down. Virgin Valley attempted a fake punt, but Ware brought down the ball carrier short of the first down. The Bulldogs got another opportunity after the Trojans’ ensuing possession, but Pahrump stopped a fourth-down run near its own goal line to take over at the 16-yard line.
Virgin Valley broke through later in the first quarter, scoring on a run with 6:14 remaining. Cade Wulfenstein blocked the extra-point attempt, keeping the Bulldogs’ lead at 6-0. Kobe Farmer recovered the ensuing onside kick for Pahrump.
The Trojans moved the ball on Dockter’s carries and a completion to Ryan Hamlin, but neither team scored again before the end of the quarter. In the second, Cross connected with Gavenda on a deep pass into the end zone. Rily’s extra point gave Pahrump a 7-6 lead with 10:22 left in the half.
The defense helped preserve that advantage. Bosket and Paul Walker combined for a sack, and Angel Ware and Gavenda made stops during later Virgin Valley possessions. Pahrump also drove as far as the Bulldogs’ 6-yard line, but a blocked field-goal attempt kept the margin at one point. The Trojans went into halftime ahead 7-6.
Pahrump added to its lead in the third quarter. Cross completed two passes to Walker to move the chains, then found Ware deep downfield to set up first-and-goal at the Virgin Valley 5-yard line. Dockter reached the ball across the goal line for a touchdown, and Rily’s kick made it 14-6 with 5:01 remaining.
Virgin Valley answered with a touchdown run and a successful two-point conversion to tie the game 14-14. The Trojans responded by putting together another drive before the quarter ended. Dockter broke off a long run to the Bulldogs’ 25-yard line, and a pass-interference penalty moved Pahrump to the 13. Early in the fourth, Cross found Gavenda in the end zone. Rily added the extra point to put the Trojans ahead 21-14 with 11:50 to play.
The defense held that lead. Gavenda intercepted a Virgin Valley pass on fourth down, and later joined Bosket and William “Billy” Sparks among the Trojans making stops as the Bulldogs tried to move downfield. With less than two minutes remaining, Virgin Valley faced another fourth down and threw incomplete. Pahrump took over and ran out the clock.
“Last Friday was such a team effort, I would like to give a shoutout to every player on this team and all of the coaches,” Head Coach Toby Henry said. “The guys that don’t play a lot give us such a great look at practice and get us ready for big games. The staff here prepares for the teams that we play better than most. This effort from everyone needs to carry over for the rest of the season.”
Defensive Coordinator Mike Colucci credited the players’ work throughout the week and their performance on Friday.
“Defense played very physical and inspired football on Friday night,” Colucci said. “We gave up a few plays that we’d like to have back, but we played all game with great effort. We had a solid week of practice on defense and it showed in the box score. Our defensive line and linebackers were very physical at the point of attack, and our secondary didn’t give up any big plays, forced an interception and tackled well on the perimeter.”
The Trojans will return home for their homecoming games against the Moapa Valley Pirates on Friday, Oct. 9. The JV game is scheduled for 4 p.m., followed by varsity at 7 p.m.
*Photos are available at pvcnphotos.com.
