Moapa Valley football more than star RJ Hubert, ready for challenge at state

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015 | 2 a.m.

The Moapa Valley High football team on Saturday will play in the state championship game for the ninth time in 10 seasons. They’ve won the title three times in that span, including last year.

The Pirates are led by wide receiver/defensive back/kick returner RJ Hubert, who is verbally committed to Utah and arguably the state’s best player, regardless of classification.

Yet, it’s safe to say Moapa Valley isn’t the team that most thought would be playing. Desert Pines, who Moapa Valley beat last year for the championship, has a roster of college recruits and was the heavy favorites to reach state.

Turns out the attention given to Desert Pines indirectly helped Moapa Valley in its development. The Pirates play Churchill County of Fallon at noon at Reno High.

“We have never flown under the radar this long,” said Brent Lewis, the Moapa Valley coach who in 14 seasons has led his program to 11 semifinal appearances.

“Nobody talked about us. They talked about DP. That was good. It took the pressure off our kids.”

Moapa Valley beat Desert Pines two weeks ago in the state quarterfinals in a game not decided until the final minute, clearing the way to the championship. Churchill County, though, might disagree.

Churchill County (11-1) has surrendered just 117 points in 12 games and enters on an 11-game winning streak. The Greenwave are disciplined and rarely commit mistakes, And, most important, they are confident after beating Moapa Valley in the 2013 semifinals.

Churchill County quarterback Connor Richardson has passed for 2,479 yards and 32 touchdowns, and averages 6.5 yards per carry. Running back Cade Vercelletti has rushed for more than 1,000 yards and has 16 touchdowns.

“They throw the ball very well. We are going to have to cover,” Lewis said. “That quarterback, if he doesn’t find anyone open, he takes off.”

Moapa Valley also has multiple weapons. While Hubert, who has more than 2,000 total yards of offense and 29 touchdowns, is clearly its best player, he’s not a one-man show.

Senior Trystin Deal has more than 100 rushing yards in last week’s semifinal win against Elko, Sterling Simmons has eight rushing touchdowns and quarterback Nate Cox is efficient in organizing the offense.

But it wasn’t that way early in the season. In the season opener, Moapa Valley stumbled to a 35-21 win against Sierra Vista, not exactly a power.

“We could barely line up,” Lewis said of the beginning of the season. “We didn’t know who to block or what direction we were going.”

But, just like other Moapa Valley teams before them, the Pirates quickly figured it out. And by the time they ran into Desert Pines in the playoffs, Moapa Valley’s assumed disadvantages — its lack of speed and size in comparison to its rivals — was a nonfactor.

“Size and all that stuff is overrated, I think,” Lewis said. “It’s about a kid's effort. If he learns the right technique and is aggressive, we can turn the kid into a football player.”

On defense, the Pirates have more than their share of good players. In the past five games, including four in the playoffs, they’ve surrendered just 30 points.

Hubert has 54 tackles and six interceptions, junior Dalyn Leavitt leads the team with 89 tackles, and Chace Traasdahl has 79 tackles — including 12 for loss. Talan McClure and Garrett Rose have been forces on both sides of the line.

It’s a group of players that’s gone from being under the radar to leading Moapa Valley back to the state championship game. They are four quarters away from adding their names to one of the best high school sports dynasties in Nevada.

“The kids have gotten better each week. They’ve given us a chance,” Lewis said.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21