The Pahrump Valley High School junior varsity football team scored four touchdowns and kept pressing through the final minute of a 56-28 loss to Virgin Valley in Mesquite on Friday, Sept. 25.
The Bulldogs led 20-0 after the first quarter, but the Trojans put together a sustained drive behind quarterback Evan Strain. Passes to Nathan Elliott, Connor Witherell and Landon Holzer moved Pahrump into Virgin Valley territory before an interception ended the possession.
Virgin Valley extended its lead to 34-0 in the second quarter. On the Trojans’ next drive, Strain broke free on a keeper and ran for a touchdown with 6:35 remaining in the half. He then connected with Holzer for a two-point conversion.
The Bulldogs answered quickly, but Pahrump responded with another touchdown. Strain found Holzer on a deep pass, and Holzer took it into the end zone with 4:42 left in the half. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the Trojans down 41-14. Virgin Valley scored once more before halftime to take a 49-14 lead.
Pahrump’s defense continued to make stops throughout the game. Kelan Sheppard handled several kickoff returns and made tackles, while Esteban Chavez stopped a runner for a loss of two yards in the second quarter. Nathan Elliott, Kristoffer Trejo, Andrew Chastain and Kayden Derouin-Rayner also contributed tackles before halftime.
With a running clock in the second half, Virgin Valley added a touchdown to make it 56-14. The Trojans continued working on offense. Strain converted a fourth down with a quarterback keeper, and Ashton Toole added a four-yard carry during a third-quarter drive.
The defense held the Bulldogs scoreless in the fourth quarter. Chastain broke up a pass, Sheppard made a stop, and Pahrump forced a fourth-down field goal attempt that came up short.
The Trojans took over and struck again when Strain completed a pass to Witherell, who ran it in for a touchdown. Strain kept the ball for the two-point conversion, cutting the deficit to 56-22 with 3:14 remaining.
Pahrump’s defense gave the offense one more opportunity. Lucas Silva stopped a Virgin Valley runner, and pressure from Cade Castaneda helped force an incomplete pass on fourth down. The Trojans took over near midfield with 1:35 left.
Strain completed a deep pass to Holzer to reach the 17-yard line, then ran to the 5 on a keeper. With 40.6 seconds remaining, he found Sheppard for a touchdown pass. The conversion attempt fell short, making the final score 56-28.
Kristoffer Trejo and Immanuel Culliver made stops on Virgin Valley’s final possession. Even with the outcome decided, the Trojans kept competing through the last play. Their two fourth-quarter touchdowns and late defensive stand showed the effort they brought to the field despite the deficit.
