3A ALL-LEAGUE: Newton, Pirates sweep top football awards

One all-league award might not do justice to Matt Newton’s stellar season. The versatile Moapa Valley senior’s name appeared five times on the list of Class 3A Southern League football honors.

Newton was named league Most Valuable Player, and was a first-team selection at wide receiver, cornerback and punter. He also was chosen as the second-team return specialist.

But Newton, who also spent time at running back this season, doesn’t hesitate to tell anyone his favorite position.

“Definitely wide receiver,” he said. “That’s where I’m most effective at and where I get most of my touchdowns and yards.”

Newton led the Pirates in rushing (689 yards, nine touchdowns) and receiving (40 receptions, 1,026 yards, 12 TDs). He also had five interceptions while playing safety, and booted 26 extra points.

Moapa Valley (7-4) fell short of winning a third straight 3A state championship, losing 27-0 to Truckee (12-0) in the state final Saturday at Damonte Ranch High in Reno.

The Pirates, though, finished 2-0 in league and dominated all-league selections.

Junior quarterback Kelan Weiss was named Offensive Player of the Year after passing for 1,582 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Senior linebacker Jake Pearce took Defensive Player of the Year.

Coach of the Year went to Brent Lewis, who guided the Pirates to six wins in a row before the loss in the state title game.

Class 3A Southern League Honors

First Team Offense
QB–Kelan Weiss, Moapa Valley. RB–Devin Combs, Boulder City; Zach Waite, Moapa Valley; Richard Vidal, Virgin Valley. WR–Dillon Gordon, Moapa Valley; Matt Newton, Moapa Valley. OL–Colby Powell, Moapa Valley; Robert Lilly, Virgin Valley; Colton Doty, Moapa Valley; Hector Espinosa, Moapa Valley; Cameron Lim, Moapa Valley. TE–Preston Swasey, Boulder City. KR–Combs, Boulder City. K–Nick Pellegrini, Boulder City.
First Team Defense
DE–Lim, Moapa Valley; Luke Leavitt, Moapa Valley. DT–Powell, Moapa Valley; Justin Ibarra, Moapa Valley; Bleu Huxford, Boulder City. LB–Jake Pearce, Moapa Valley; Steven Kaposta, Boulder City; Zach Horlacher, Virgin Valley; Alex Huerta, Moapa Valley. CB–Newton, Moapa Valley; Gordon, Moapa Valley. S–Weiss, Moapa Valley; Hayden Cooper, Moapa Valley. P–Newton, Moapa Valley.
Second Team Offense
QB–Ross LaMarca, Boulder City. RB–Huerta, Moapa Valley; Horlacher, Virgin Valley; Daniel Gleave, Virgin Valley. WR–Kyle Dimpel, Boulder City; Jack LaMarca, Boulder City. OL–Ibarra, Moapa Valley; Victor Ruvalcaba, Virgin Valley; Matt Devore, Virgin Valley; Tate Boyster, Boulder City; Huxford, Boulder City. TE–Cooper, Moapa Valley. KR–Newton, Moapa Valley. K–Ruvalcaba, Virgin Valley.
Second Team Defense
DE–Ruvalcaba, Virgin Valley; Jake Thurmodsgaard, Boulder City. DT–Lilly, Virgin Valley; Boyster, Boulder City; Tyler Waite, Moapa Valley. LB–Swasey, Boulder City; Kyler Hughes, Virgin Valley; Z. Waite, Moapa Valley; Vidal, Virgin Valley. CB–Dimpel, Boulder City; Austin Cloes, Virgin Valley. S–Tim McKeever, Boulder City; Gleave, Virgin Valley. P–Ruvalcaba, Virgin Valley.
MVP–Matt Newton, Moapa Valley.
Offensive Player of the Year–Kelan Weiss, Moapa Valley.
Defensive Player of the Year–Jake Pearce, Moapa Valley.
Coach of the Year–Brent Lewis, Moapa Valley.