Pahrump Valley hopes Clayton’s return brings team back to playoffs

By Jesse Granger

Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016 | 3:07 p.m.

After a yearlong absence the Pahrump Valley High football team has regained its leader.

Joe Clayton, who coached the Trojans for seven straight years (three as head coach), will return as coach after taking a year off.

In 2012, Clayton led the Trojans to their only playoff appearance since 2006, and he hopes to repeat that performance in his first year back with the program.

“We have a great senior group that has been working hard all summer,” offensive coordinator Craig Rieger said. “It’s a tight knit senior group with a good junior group right behind it so we are excited.”

The Trojans will field a seasoned group on defense with much of last year’s starting lineup returning, but they will need to improve mightily from last year to make a run at the postseason.

Pahrump Valley surrendered 34 points per game during league play in 2015, including 61 against Cheyenne and 46 against Faith Lutheran — the league’s top-2 teams.

As most small-town teams do, the Trojans struggle finding enough speed to keep up with the top teams. But this year’s defense is confident that their chemistry will make up for that.

“We run a base 4-3 and the key point for our team is to not let the ball get to the outside and force everything towards the middle,” said senior running back and cornerback Jesse Dillon.

Dillon is part of a senior-laden secondary that will play behind senior linebackers Case Murphy and Riley Sutton, and senior defensive lineman Garrett Monje and Aaron Fuentes.

“We’ve all been together since sixth grade and we know we can all depend on each other and do our job,” Sutton said. “It’s always 11 guys on the ball and it works really well.”

Pahrump Valley lost last year’s leading rusher Thomas Gascoigne, who Dillon will be looking to replace.

The Trojans attempted only 73 passes for 497 passing yards in 2015 and they will continue to run the jet sweep offense that rarely puts the ball in the air.

“We need to control the time of possession,” Rieger said. “Keep the offense out on the field and keep the defense off. That offense is going to control the ball.”

Under center will be 6-foot, 200-pound Parker Hart, who attempted only one pass as a junior last year.

One thing the Trojans must rekindle if they want any shot at a postseason berth is the home field advantage that carried them in 2014.

Pahrump Valley went 1-4 at home last season after a perfect 4-0 in the season prior. With an hour-long road trip for the visitors and bleachers overflowing with fans on their side, there is no excuse for the Trojans to finish below .500 at home.

“They do help out a lot,” Sutton said. “We always have packed stands and they get really loud. Most schools in Vegas don’t have a big fan group and student section so we have the whole town kind of rooting for us so it’s always good to play at home.”