The Pahrump Valley High School varsity football team delivered touchdowns on offense, defense and special-teams opportunities during a commanding 56-8 victory over Chaparral High School on Friday, Sept. 4.
Pahrump established the lead during the opening quarter when Cade Wulfenstein carried the ball around the right side and into the end zone. Aaron Rily added the extra point, giving the Trojans a 7-0 advantage with 6:19 remaining in the quarter.
The Pahrump defense quickly set the tone as well. Alejandro Rayas made consecutive stops behind or near the line of scrimmage, including one that left Chaparral facing fourth-and-6. The Cowboys managed to extend the possession with a completion over the middle, but the Trojans soon forced a punt.
Preston Dockter helped Pahrump move the ball with runs to the right and through the middle before the quarter ended with the Trojans still leading 7-0.
The game opened up during a 42-point second quarter for Pahrump. Quarterback Evan Strain scrambled for approximately 20 yards on an early drive, and a facemask penalty against Chaparral moved the Trojans to the 10-yard line. Dockter completed the possession by running toward the left corner of the end zone for a touchdown. Rily’s extra point increased the lead to 14-0 with 11:15 remaining in the half.
William Sparks then took over on defense. He recorded a sack for a four-yard loss and recovered a fumble on the following play, returning it for another Pahrump touchdown. After an encroachment penalty on the extra-point attempt, the Trojans sent their offense onto the field and Dockter ran left for the two-point conversion, extending the advantage to 22-0.
Pahrump’s defense continued producing stops. Angel Ware recovered another Chaparral fumble after the ball was knocked loose, while Kobe Farmer provided tight coverage on an incomplete pass during a later Cowboys possession. The Trojans forced another punt and took over near their own 40-yard line.
Dockter carried the ball up the middle for a first down at the Chaparral 28 before Tristan Schumacher finished the drive with a touchdown run through the middle. Rily sent the extra point straight through the uprights to make it 29-0 with 4:56 left in the half.
Chaparral answered with a long touchdown pass and successful two-point conversion, but Pahrump responded immediately. Ware recovered the ensuing kick near midfield, giving the offense another opportunity.
After a holding penalty pushed the Trojans back, Strain connected with Ware for a 43-yard completion along the left sideline. The play moved Pahrump to the 7-yard line, and Schumacher powered through traffic for his second touchdown of the quarter. Another extra point from Rily increased the lead to 36-8.
Wulfenstein recovered the next kickoff near the Pahrump 40, and Lucas Gavenda caught a pass through the middle of the Chaparral defense for a gain of approximately 25 yards. Schumacher followed with a run to the right corner of the end zone, giving the Trojans a 42-8 lead.
Pahrump added one more defensive touchdown before halftime. Kain Johnson recovered a Chaparral fumble and returned it to the end zone. Rily converted the extra point with 35 seconds remaining, sending the Trojans into the break ahead 49-8.
A running clock began during the second half, but Pahrump’s offense continued moving methodically down the field. Dockter gained 13 yards up the middle for a first down, Schumacher added seven yards on a run to the right and Strain completed a six-yard pass to Hunter Wydick to move the chains.
Schumacher gained another six yards before Dockter ran toward the left corner of the end zone for his third touchdown of the night. Rily’s extra point completed the scoring and gave Pahrump a 56-8 lead with seven minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The Trojans also used the second half to get additional players involved. Angel Tepale recorded consecutive eight-yard runs, with the second moving the chains before the end of the third quarter.
Ware handled much of the rushing work during the fourth. He carried the ball repeatedly as Pahrump advanced inside the Chaparral 5-yard line. Ware reached the 1 on fourth down before being stopped just short of the end zone, turning the ball over on downs with five minutes remaining.
Chaparral moved the ball on its final possession, including a long completion through the middle with approximately 1:30 left, but the Cowboys were unable to add to their total before time expired.
Dockter’s three rushing touchdowns and Schumacher’s three scores led a productive Pahrump ground game. Sparks and Johnson each added a defensive touchdown, while Rily consistently finished the Trojans’ scoring drives with successful extra points.
The 56-8 road win gave Pahrump a complete team performance, with the offense sustaining drives, the defense forcing turnovers and the kickoff unit recovering two loose balls to repeatedly create favorable field position.
