Members of the Desert Pines High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun’s high school football media day July 20, 2016 at the South Point. They include, from top left, Poutasi Poutasi, Edgar Burrola, Randal Grimes. Middle left, Jalen Graves, Eddie Heckard, Jauta’e Collins. Bottom left, Tony Fields, Isaiah Morris, and Marckell Grayson.
Published Friday, Nov. 4, 2016 | 7 p.m.
Updated Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016 | 1:09 a.m.
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Stories from games across the valley:
• Bishop Gorman takes down Sierra Vista for 50th straight win
• Palo Verde rushes past Centennial into playoffs
• Chaparral avenges earlier loss to Virgin Valley, advances to state semifinals
• Arbor View finishes perfect in Northwest by destroying Cimarron-Memorial
• Basic beats Eldorado to bring on revenge game with Foothill in playoffs
• Bonanza rides momentum to convincing win over Desert Oasis
• Silverado beats Las Vegas through the air for playoff win
• Spring Valley prevails in overtime against Durango, claims last playoff spot
• Legacy thunders into playoffs as Turner gashes Shadow Ridge
• A special (teams) upset: Perfect punt propels Foothill to playoff win
• Liberty wipes out Valley in playoff opener
• • •
The games haven’t been decided until late in the fourth quarter.
Two years ago, Moapa Valley erased a three-touchdown deficit in the fourth to beat Desert Pines in overtime of the state championship game. Desert Pines fumbled on its first play of overtime to cap Moapa Valley’s come-from-behind win.
In last year’s state quarterfinals, Moapa Valley held on for a 13-12 victory against the Jags. It scored late in the fourth quarter and sealed the victory with an interception.
The rivalry will be renewed tonight at Desert Pines in another elimination game. Both teams have peaked in the final weeks of the season.
Jacob Leavitt has rushed for more than 200 yards in three straight games for the Pirates, who have reached the state championship game nine times in the past 10 seasons. Desert Pines has Division I recruits on both sides of the ball, entering with just one loss and plenty of momentum after mercy-rule wins in consecutive weeks.
Of course, Desert Pines just can’t seem to beat Moapa Valley. Each season, it appears to be better than the Overton school on paper. And each season, Moapa Valley finds a way to win. That includes during the regular season last year when a Desert Pines victory was erased because it had to forfeit for using an ineligible player.
It’s not the lone playoff game of the night.
In the Sunrise Regional quarterfinals, close games are expected between Northeast League champion Canyon Springs and visiting Foothill, and Silverado at Las Vegas High.
In nonplayoff action, Sierra Vista hosts Bishop Gorman in a battle of undefeated teams in the Southwest League. In the Northwest, four teams are contending for the final two playoff spots. And, as fate would have it, they play each other. Palo Verde takes on Centennial, and Legacy tangles with Shadow Ridge.
We’ll keep everyone posted as scores become final. Send us your game detail and photos on Twitter using #702hsfb or #sunstandout.
Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21
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