Moapa Valley defense stars in win leading up to showdown with Mojave

By Case Keefer (contact)

Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013 | 11:37 p.m.

Nothing will come easy against the Moapa Valley defense this year.

The Pirates went 7 1/2 quarters without giving up any points this season until Clark found the end zone late in Saturday’s game. Other than losing a second straight shutout, however, the score was insignificant.

Moapa Valley improved its record to 2-0 with a 41-8 victory.

“We were solid defensively,” Moapa Valley coach Brent Lewis said. “We played a little better than we did last week.”

Now the focus shifts to next week when Moapa Valley hosts Mojave in a game that could show which team is the early favorite to win the Division 1A state title.

Moapa Valley narrowly escaped Mojave in last year’s playoffs with a 36-32 victory.

“They’ve got athletes up front, so we’ve got to match their physicality,” Lewis said. “The kids want to show that we’re the team to beat. I’d say they’re eager for the challenge.”

Mojave must be up for the challenge of slowing quarterback Zach Hymas' multifaceted running game. Against Clark, Hymas went 14-for-19 for 169 yards and two touchdowns while a committee of running backs chipped in 228 rushing yards.

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.