Moment of the Year: Moapa Valley football returns home to a state-championship parade

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Wednesday, May 25, 2022 | 2 a.m.

The Moapa Valley High football team was already celebrating on its long ride home to Overton from Allegiant Stadium after defeating rival Virgin Valley 27-13 in the 3A state championship.

Then the bus pulled onto Logandale’s main drag for the final leg of the commute, and everything was amplified. Supporters greeted them in an over-the-top welcome home.

Trucks from the town’s volunteer fire department led the final 6-mile leg of the drive home with sirens blasting and lights flashing. Fans lined both sides of the street for miles, many honking the horns of their vehicles, lighting off fireworks and holding homemade congratulatory signs.

Even when the bus turned into Overton by Lin’s Market a few miles into town, fans were still prevalent—close to the entire town of about 5,000 people showed up. And it was 12:30 a.m.

“I had heard about the parade from other state champion teams, so it was fun to be part of,” Moapa Valley senior Peyton Neilson said. “It made it a lot more memorable. We know our community always has our backs, and that makes you try harder.”

The bleachers at Allegiant were also packed and raucous for the game, making it feel like everyone in the region was involved the entire night.

“Both of our communities emptied out,” Moapa Valley coach Brent Lewis said. “It was fun, a special moment. It’s a shame, one of us had to lose.”