The Pahrump Valley High School varsity football team faced a steep uphill climb Friday, Aug. 28, at Durango High School, but a second-half offensive surge turned what had been a lopsided game into a battle that came down to the closing minutes.
Trailing 27-0 at halftime, the Trojans scored 34 points over the final two quarters, twice pulling within one possession before the Trailblazers held on for a 42-34 victory.
Durango established its advantage early, scoring on its opening possession for a 7-0 lead. Pahrump began finding some room on its next drive, with Ryan Hamlin picking up yardage on a quarterback keeper before connecting with Paul Walker for a first down. A fumbled snap, however, gave the Trailblazers possession, and Durango quickly turned the turnover into another touchdown to make it 14-0.
Pahrump’s defense settled in following the early scores. Walker and Billy Sparks combined to bring down the Durango quarterback, while Iyan Bosket stopped a run for no gain and later dropped the quarterback for a loss to help force a punt.
Those plays were part of productive nights for all three defenders. Bosket led the Trojans with 12 total tackles, including six solo stops and a sack. Walker recorded two sacks among his three tackles, while Sparks was credited with two sacks and four assisted tackles. Pahrump finished the night with five sacks as a team.
Offensively, Preston Dockter handled much of the work on the ground as the Trojans tried to establish drives against the Trailblazer defense. Durango continued to make things difficult, however, and Pahrump entered the second quarter still looking for its first points.
Sophomore Evan Strain took over at quarterback during the second quarter and began directing the Trojan offense. Pahrump moved the ball on the ground with Dockter and Tristan Schumacher, but a fumble ended one promising possession.
The Trojan defense continued creating pressure on the other side of the ball. Lucas Gavenda and Walker combined on a stop, while Bosket pressured the quarterback on another series and Angel Ware stayed with the intended receiver to help force an incompletion. Durango eventually connected on a 40-yard touchdown pass with 5:01 remaining in the half, extending its lead to 20-0.
The Trailblazers scored once more with 17 seconds remaining to take a 27-0 advantage into halftime.
Pahrump came out of the break ready to make a push.
Following a Durango punt early in the third quarter, Dockter picked up a few yards before Strain sold a fake handoff, rolled to his right and connected deep with Aaron Rily. Rily gained 35 yards on the reception and carried the ball down near the Trailblazer goal line.
Although Pahrump came away without points on that possession, the defense quickly created another opportunity.
With 4:55 remaining in the third, pressure from the Trojans forced Durango’s quarterback to put the ball in the air, and Gavenda intercepted the pass. He returned it 34 yards for a touchdown, and Rily converted the extra point to put Pahrump on the board at 27-7.
The defense immediately went back to work. Durango threw three consecutive incompletions and then attempted a fake punt, but the Trojans stopped the runner short, handing the offense the ball at the Trailblazer 21-yard line.
Dockter took advantage of the short field. After picking up seven yards on one carry, he converted a fourth down to keep the possession alive and then finished the drive with a touchdown run with 2:51 remaining in the quarter.
Dockter finished as Pahrump’s leading rusher with 63 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries while adding a 12-yard reception. Schumacher contributed 34 rushing yards on two attempts, including a 27-yard run.
Durango answered before the third quarter ended, scoring to take a 34-13 lead, but Pahrump carried its offensive momentum into the fourth.
Early in the final quarter, Strain connected with Gavenda, who turned the completion into a long touchdown with 11:35 remaining. Rily’s extra point bounced off the upright and through, cutting the Trailblazers’ advantage to 34-20.
The touchdown highlighted a big night for Gavenda on both sides of the ball. He caught two passes for a team-high 87 receiving yards and a touchdown while also recording five tackles and the 34-yard interception return for a score.
After the Pahrump defense forced Durango to turn the ball over on downs, Strain went back to work. He connected with Walker across the field and then found Ware for a first down. A quick pass to Ware moments later turned into another Trojan touchdown, and Rily’s extra point made it 34-27 with 7:46 remaining.
Ware finished with two catches for 41 yards and a touchdown, while Walker added two receptions for 28 yards.
Durango recovered Pahrump’s ensuing onside kick and answered with another touchdown, adding a two-point conversion to push its lead back to 42-27 with 5:32 left.
Even then, the Trojans continued to press. Strain connected with Dockter for a first down and later found Hunter Wydick inside the Durango 10-yard line. Dockter carried the ball to within a yard of the goal line before Strain kept it himself and crossed for the touchdown with 2:31 remaining. Rily added the extra point, once again bringing Pahrump within eight at 42-34.
Strain finished the night 9-of-18 passing for 200 yards and two touchdowns after taking over at quarterback in the second quarter. He also added 16 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Rily contributed a 35-yard reception and converted four of five extra-point attempts.
Overall, Pahrump generated 333 yards of offense, with 212 yards through the air and 121 on the ground.
The Trojans attempted another onside kick following Strain’s touchdown, but Durango recovered near midfield. The Trailblazers were able to keep possession through the remaining minutes, bringing Pahrump’s comeback bid to an end.
Pahrump will look to build on the offensive rhythm it found in the second half as the Trojans turn their attention to their next matchup.
