Nevada state football finals: Faith Lutheran vs. Spanish Springs — LIVE BLOG

Welcome to Allegiant Stadium for the NIAA state football championships.

Bishop Gorman (10-1) faces Arbor View (9-2) in the Open Division final scheduled for 7 p.m. Faith Lutheran (6-7) meets Spanish Springs (12-0) for the Class 5A title at 3:40 p.m. and upstart Sloan Canyon (12-0) takes on McQueen (10-2) in the Class 4A championship at 12:20 p.m.

Needles pulled away for a 22-12 win over North Region champion Pershing County in the Class 2A final earlier.

We will be out here all day live blogging the action, so be sure to check back for updates throughout the day.

4:02 p.m.: Spanish Springs wins the toss and elects to receive to put its offense on the field right away. And we’re off and running in the 5A title game.

4:01 p.m.: The teams have emerged from the locker room and it’s almost time for kickoff.

3:52 p.m.: We are getting set for the Class 5A final between Faith Lutheran and Spanish Springs with game time about 15 minutes away. The Crusaders advanced to the title game despite a 1-6 start to the season and are led on offense by quarterback Dominick Folino and running back Justin Robbins. Spanish Springs’ spread offense averages 44 points per game behind quarterback Tyson McNeil, who has thrown for 3,166 yards and 48 touchdown passes.

3:10 p.m.: In the end, Sloan Canyon made too many mistakes (turnovers, penalties, dropped passes etc.) to overcome. But it’s a memorable season nonetheless for the Pirates, who were seeking their first state title in their third season as a football program.

3:03 p.m.: FINAL. McQueen 27, Sloan Canyon 20.

3:02 p.m.: Lancers quarterback Ryder Tucker takes a knee and heaves the ball into the air in celebration as McQueen pulls off the upset in the Class 4A state final.

3:02 p.m.: Pirates quarterback Cade Hoshino scrambles to keep the play alive, but his fourth-down pass falls incomplete and McQueen takes over with 10 seconds remaining up 27-20.

3:01 p.m.: This is a poised drive from Sloan Canyon, marching down to the McQueen 26-yard line. The Pirates had two chances for big plays but couldn’t convert and now face a fourth down with 19 seconds left and their season on the line.

2:46 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN. Nason Rodriguez weaves through the Sloan Canyon defense and scores on a 15-yard run. McQueen leads 27-20 after the extra point with 1:35 remaining in the fourth quarter and we officially have an upset brewing. The Lancers had a huge conversion on fourth-and-11 one play before the touchdown. Ryder Tucker connected with Brooks Porter down the right sideline for 18 yards with 1:42 left.

2:37 p.m.: Pirates quarterback Cade Hoshino is sacked on third down by the McQueen defense, and the Lancers will get the ball in good field position at their own 45-yard line with 4:48 remaining and all the momentum on their sideline. It’s Sloan Canyon 20, McQueen 20.

2:29 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN. McQueen quarterback Ryder Tucker finds Alex Grush on the slant route for a 5-yard touchdown, and the extra point ties the game at 20 with 7:39 remaining in the fourth quarter. That was a 15-play, 96-yard drive that took 5:33 off the clock and was kept alive by a roughing-the-punter penalty against Sloan Canyon.

2:18 p.m.: END OF THE 3RD QUARTER. Sloan Canyon 20, McQueen 13.

2:13 p.m.: After a nice drive by Sloan Canyon, Cade Hoshino rolls left and fires into the end zone, but McQueen’s Isaiah Beck is there for the interception. He tries to return it but is knocked out of bounds at the 4-yard line, where the Lancers take over with 1:12 remaining in third quarter. It’s still Sloan Canyon 20, McQueen 13.

2:07 p.m.: McQueen was in position to tie the game after a 50-yard pass from Ryder Tucker to Chance Gold, but the Sloan Canyon defense held. The Lancers had to settle for a 30-yard field-goal attempt, but after a low snap, Cameron Niedfeldt’s kick appeared to be blocked and fell short. Sloan Canyon takes over with under 4 minutes to play in the third quarter leading 20-13.

1:59 p.m.: For the second time, the Pirates give it right back after a turnover. It’s the second interception for McQueen of Sloan Canyon quarterback Cade Hoshino.

1:56 p.m.: Parker Perkins comes up with the interception for Sloan Canyon, and the Pirates appear to be taking control with 9:51 left in the third quarter.

1:50 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN. Cade Hoshino rolls right and zips a 5-yard touchdown pass to Justice Hutchins to put Sloan Canyon ahead. That was a quick opening drive from the Pirates, who now lead 20-13.

1:48 p.m.: Sloan Canyon gets the second-half kickoff and we’re underway.

1:36 p.m.: A few halftime stats courtesy of the RJ’s Alex Wright. For Sloan Canyon, Cade Hoshino has 123 yards passing and two touchdowns, Jermaine Wilson Jr. has 59 rushing yards and receiver Christian Rhodes has two catches for 52 yards and a touchdown.

McQueen quarterback Ryder Tucker has 91 yards passing and a TD, while Nason Rodriguez leads the Lancers on the ground with 42 yards rushing.

1:28 p.m.: HALFTIME. Sloan Canyon 13, McQueen 13.

1:22 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN. The Pirates were able to find more balance on that drive and an exceptional catch by Brandon Quaglio to convert on third-and-23 helped. Quaglio was rewarded with a 16-yard touchdown grab on a pass from Cade Hoshino. The extra point missed and it’s tied at 13 with 22 seconds left until halftime.

1:08 p.m.: Sloan Canyon gives it right back to the Lancers. It appeared that quarterback Cade Hoshino didn’t see McQueen’s Brooks Porter drop in coverage, and he came up with the interception. McQueen gets the ball at its own 29-yard line with 5:41 remaining in the second quarter.

1:03 p.m.: McQueen was driving on the strength of quarterback Ryder Tucker’s legs. But the Lancers fumble in Sloan Canyon territory and the Pirates take over at their own 34 with 6:39 left until halftime.

12:54 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN. The Pirates finally hit a deep ball as quarterback Cade Hoshino connects with receiver Christian Rhodes for a 32-yard touchdown. McQueen leads Sloan Caynton 13-7 with 9:55 left in the second quarter.

12:52 p.m.: Sloan Canyon continues to try to stretch the field vertically and take shots against the McQueen secondary but hasn’t been able to connect until Christian Rhodes comes up with a deflection to get the Pirates moving.

12:48 p.m.: END OF THE 1ST QUARTER. McQueen 13, Sloan Canyon 0.

12:45 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN. McQueen cashes in on the field position. Ryder Tucker hangs in the pocket and finds Brooks Porter crossing over the middle for an 18-yard touchdown. The extra point is blocked and the Lancers lead Sloan Canyon 13-0 with 23 seconds left in the first quarter.

12:39 p.m.: Sloan Canyon goes for it on fourth-and-1 from its own 41 and the Pirates lose 7 yards. McQueen takes over on downs from the Sloan Canyon 34 and it’s a big momentum swing early in favor of the Northern Region champs.

12:33 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN. McQueen marches 68 yards, as running back Nason Rodriguez caps the drive with a 12-yard run to put the Lancers on top 7-0 with 5:47 remaining. Quarterback Ryder Tucker kept several plays alive with his legs on the drive, and that will be something to watch for the Pirates defense.

12:23 p.m.: After a second kickoff, McQueen gets the ball its own 32 and we are underway.

12:18 p.m.: Sloan Canyon wins the toss and defers to the second half.

12:11 p.m.: Sloan Canyon takes the field for its first appearance in the Class 4A state title game and gets a loud ovation from the crowd. The Pirates will be in the all black with white helmets, while McQueen is wearing white jerseys, silver pants and silver helmets.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Contact David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ on X.