The Pahrump Valley High School Trojans opened their postseason with one of the most dominant performances in program history on Thursday, October 30, defeating The Meadows Mustangs 70–6 in the Class 3A Southern League Quarterfinals at home. The win not only advanced the Trojans to the semifinals but also broke two major school records—most points scored in a single game and most sacks in a single season.
and members of the Pahrump Valley Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol.
From the first snap, the Trojans set the tone. The defense came out strong with Billy Sparks recording an early sack and Austin Alvarez breaking up a pass on third down, forcing the Mustangs to punt. On their first offensive drive, quarterback Kayne Horibe wasted no time, connecting with Alvarez on a 32-yard touchdown pass just over a minute into the game. The extra point was blocked, but the Trojans led 7–0 with 10:50 left in the first quarter.
On the next series, Lucas Gavenda intercepted a Meadows pass and returned the ball deep into Mustang territory. Horibe handed off to Alvarez, who found an open lane and ran it in for another score at 6:22. Josh Slusher kicked the extra point to extend the lead to 14–0.
The defense continued to dominate as Jack Walker and Iyan Bosket stopped the Mustangs behind the line, and Ashton McClard and Ryan Hamlin each broke up pass attempts. After a blocked punt, the Trojans took over again near the 39-yard line. A keeper by Horibe moved the ball to the 4-yard line, setting up Alvarez for his third touchdown of the quarter. Slusher’s extra point was good, and Pahrump was ahead 21–0 with just over five minutes left in the first.
With relentless pressure from Gideon Wydick and Sparks, the defense forced another punt. Shortly after, Slusher broke free on a long run to the end zone for another Trojan touchdown, giving Pahrump a commanding 27–0 lead. The first quarter ended with the Trojans in complete control, backed by a smothering defense and an offense firing on all cylinders.
Early in the second quarter, The Meadows finally found the end zone with a short pass after a series of penalties moved them into scoring range, but their two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the score at 27–6 with 11 minutes remaining. The Trojans responded immediately. A deep pass from Horibe to Alvarez resulted in another touchdown, followed by a two-point conversion run by Alvarez to make it 35–6.
Just minutes later, Alvarez struck again—breaking tackles on his way to yet another rushing touchdown, capped by a good extra point from Slusher. With 7:59 left in the second quarter, the Trojans led 42–6, and the game moved into a running clock. Before halftime, Bosket powered through defenders for a touchdown run with a minute remaining, sending Pahrump into the break with a 49–6 lead.
The second half began the same way the first ended—complete Trojan dominance. On the opening kickoff, Alvarez recovered an onside kick at midfield, and Horibe hit Ryan Hamlin with a deep pass that put the team inside the 10-yard line. Preston Dockter finished the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 56–6 early in the third quarter.
Hamlin grabbed another interception on defense, returning the ball near midfield. Bosket then carried the load on the ground, bulldozing his way to the 2-yard line before Horibe faked a handoff and kept it himself for a touchdown. Slusher’s extra point was good, and Pahrump stretched the lead to 63–6 with just under three minutes left in the third.
In the final quarter, Dockter added one more rushing touchdown at 5:25, pushing the Trojans to a record 70 points. The defense held strong to close the game, with John Wydick, Christien Ramiscal, and Paul Walker all contributing key tackles.
After the game, Head Coach Thomas Walker praised the team’s execution and milestone performance.
“First I want to thank my Savior Jesus for the opportunity he has given me and this program. The team played outstandingly Thursday. Set the record for points scored in a game (70) on only 22 offensive plays. We also broke the team single season record for sacs in a season. We went into the game with 20 and ended with 25. We hope to extend that record this week.”
He also turned his focus toward the upcoming semifinal matchup against Moapa Valley. “As for Friday at Moapa, we are focused on the next play. Though our game earlier this year didn’t go the way we wanted we learned a lot and expect a different outcome. The final score was not indicative of our efforts. We will run the ball better as we are at full strength up front which we were not the last time we played them. We look forward to the opportunity to prove what we can do against one of the best programs in the state.”
Offensive Coordinator Toby Henry commended the Trojans’ efficiency and energy. “I think our boys played awesome last Thursday night. A great playoff win. We did what we should have done and it’s really special if you ever score 70 points in a football game. We are really exited to get another chance at Moapa this week. It’s going to be a fun game with a great atmosphere.”
Defensive Coordinator Mike Colucci praised his unit’s discipline and toughness. “Defensively our boys played physical and aggressive. Overall, I was happy with how our secondary played in coverage and our defensive line played great. We will need to have a great week of practice this week to continue improving. It’s going to be a great environment on Friday night!”
With their confidence at an all-time high, the Trojans now turn their attention to a rematch with Moapa Valley—a powerhouse program they’re eager to challenge once again. After setting records on both sides of the ball, Pahrump heads into the semifinals with momentum, unity, and a clear sense of purpose.
