Cox guides Pirates past Sierra Vista in playoff opener

Nate Cox completed 15 of 26 passes for 225 yards and five touchdowns Thursday to help Moapa Valley's football team to a 52-12 win over visiting Sierra Vista in the opening round of the Division I-A playoffs.

Cox threw four TDs in the first half to give Moapa Valley a 35-6 lead and added a 7-yard strike to Trystin Deal with 7:07 left in the third quarter to put the game away.

R.J. Hubert, who led the team with six catches for 134 yards, scored on a 40-yard TD pass for the game's first score. He also had a 43-yard interception return for a score for the Pirates (9-1).

Jay Mortensen hit a 30-yard field goal and was 7-for-7 on extra-point attempts for Moapa Valley.

Damean Bentley had a 60-yard TD run, and Isaiah Zavala added a 10-yard rushing score for Sierra Vista (3-7).

Oscar Aliaga was 2 of 9 passing for 33 yards and an interception for the Mountain Lions.