Moapa Valley, Virgin Valley rivalry for more than just bragging rights
No game is meaningless in the high school football rivalry between Moapa Valley and Virgin Valley.
But in recent years, something more than bragging rights — and the coveted hammer — has been on the line when the Class 3A Southern League foes have met in the fall.
They played in the 3A state title game in 2006 and 2007, where Virgin Valley won the first and Moapa Valley the second. Moapa Valley then won the only meeting last season to clinch the league title.
The stakes are even higher for this year’s regular-season finale at Moapa Valley at 7 p.m. Thursday.
While the winner will earn the league title, a first-round bye and host a 3A state semifinal, the loser will play Boulder City on Nov. 7 for the right to travel to a state semifinal.
“We’re pretty accustomed to this game being the game that decides who the division champion is,” Moapa Valley coach Brent Lewis said. “Par for the course — I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Though he downplayed the importance of a bye, Virgin Valley coach Kirk Hafen also is glad a league title rides on the outcome of the game.
“It seems to come down to this every year,” he said. “It’s always a big game.”
Virgin Valley (3-5, 1-0) held on for a 15-14 win over Boulder City last week. Moapa Valley (5-3, 1-0) is coming off a 68-0 win at Sunrise Mountain.
It will be the Pirates’ first home game since a 14-6 loss to Delta (Utah) on Sept. 18. Moapa Valley went 4-0 in the road stretch, including consecutive wins over 4A schools Rancho and Foothill by a combined 84-20.
Lewis, whose team is gunning for a third-straight 3A state title, said the Pirates’ young offensive line has been key in the team improving from a 1-3 start.
“Our offensive line inexperience early on was key for us,” he said. “It’s taken us some time to get the kids to understand their blocking assignments.”
The line has paved the way for a unit averaging 408.3 yards per game over its last four contests, including 236.3 rushing.
“We want to try to be more physical than they are,” Lewis said. “They’re going to want to try to ground-control us. We want to keep the ball away.”
Moapa Valley’s leader on offense all season has been senior running back/receiver Matt Newton, who paces the Pirates in rushing (656 yards, nine touchdowns) and receiving (26 receptions, 604 yards, six TDs).
“They move him around; he’s an excellent athlete,” Hafen said of Newton. “They’ve got some good athletes. Some strong, big kids up front and some fast kids that can move behind them.”
Hafen said defense is the “strong point” for his team.
Virgin Valley has allowed only 34 points in its past three games.
“They’re starting to gel,” Hafen said of his defense. “They played very well against Boulder City.”
Hafen called senior middle linebacker Zach Horlacher’s leadership “unbelievable.”
“He’s played his heart out this year,” Hafen said. “Without him, we’d probably have zero wins this year.”
Horlacher also is a key cog offensively, making a successful conversion from tight end to fullback this season. He’s third on the team in rushing with 252 yards on 57 carries.
Both coaches said the game would be significant even if it wasn’t dripping with playoff implications.
“It doesn’t matter what type of team or record,” Hafen said. “It’s always a battle. Both towns pretty much close down. It’s just exciting.”
But it won’t hurt having a league title up for grabs.
“Everybody in both towns looks forward to it,” Lewis said. “It’s the place to be Thursday night.”
