Las Vegas’ Farrell Victor rushes for 212 yards in homecoming victory over Desert Pines

Edward Hauth

Friday, Sept. 23, 2011 | 11:26 p.m.

Las Vegas senior running back Farrell Victor rushed for 212 yards and three second-half touchdowns to lead the Wildcats to a 31-10 homecoming victory over Desert Pines on Friday.

“I think it was a good look for our whole team,” Victor said. “We have a lot of young guys at receiver blocking hard down the field for me and really helping me out and making me look real good out here tonight.”

After a slow start to the first quarter in which the Wildcats had negative 14 yards and trailed 3-0, Las Vegas found its groove in the second quarter after a Desert Pines turnover on a muffed punt.

On the ensuing Wildcats possession, senior quarterback Hasaan Henderson rushed for a 34-yard gain to the Jaguars’ 1-yard line. Henderson punched it in for the score on a quarterback keeper on the following play to give Las Vegas a 7-3 lead.

Wildcats junior kicker Jay Mattox booted a 24-yard field goal late in the second quarter to give Las Vegas a 10-3 halftime lead.

In the second half, Victor took control of the game, and the Wildcats cruised to victory to remain undefeated on the year at 4-0.

“I think our front did a great job, especially in the second half,” Las Vegas coach James Thurman said. “Farrell is a great back, obviously, and we have a pretty good front to block for him.”

Victor capped a 90-yard drive late in the third quarter with an 18-yard touchdown run off right tackle to give the Wildcats a 17-3 advantage. He finished the run by flipping into the end zone to avoid a Desert Pines defender.

Early in the fourth quarter, Desert Pines had the ball deep in Las Vegas territory and was looking to cut the score to a one-possession game when Jaguars quarterback Travis Nofoa got sacked and lost a fumble to Wildcats defender Roderick Jackson.

Victor sealed the game two plays later as the senior tailback weaved 57 yards between Desert Pines defenders for a touchdown to give Las Vegas a 24-3 lead.

“The 57-yard touchdown I saw from the beginning,” Victor said. “It just opened up and I hit the hole real hard with some speed. They almost got me at the end, but I finished it off.”

Victor’s final carry of the evening resulted in his third touchdown of the second half as he burst free around the corner for a 37-yard touchdown to cap 31 unanswered points for the Wildcats.

“It’s a big win,” Thurman said. “They are a good team. We knew we were going to have our hands full. They were 0-3, but they’ve been in every game. Now, we’re tied for first.”

Desert Pines had two running backs eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark in the losing effort.

Senior Leon Hayes rushed for 116 yards on 24 carries, and sophomore Eric Wilkes ran for 102 yards on six carries, including an 80-yard score in the final minute of the game.

With the loss, the Jaguars fell to 0-2 in league play and 0-4 overall.