O’Connor, teammates get wish in 3A state semifinal berth

Danny O’Connor and his Boulder City football teammates have wanted to reach the Class 3A state semifinals since they were freshmen.

On Saturday, the senior defensive back led the Eagles there for the first time in their high school careers.

O’Connor had a crucial interception and sack in the second half, Nick Pellegrini kicked a 25-yard field goal to take the lead with 8:10 remaining, and Boulder City held on for a 10-7 road win over Virgin Valley in a 3A Southern League playoff game.

The Eagles (7-4) will visit Truckee (10-0) in a 3A state semifinal next Saturday.

“It really means a lot to our senior class and all our kids that have been playing together since second grade,” O’Connor said. “It’s a real pride factor for Boulder City.”

O’Connor returned an interception 35 yards to Virgin Valley’s 16-yard line midway through the third quarter. Six plays later, Jack LaMarca’s 5-yard touchdown run tied the game at 7.

Virgin Valley faced a third-and-5 from Boulder City’s 21 with less than five minutes left when O’Connor and Steven Kaposta converged to sack Bulldogs quarterback Daniel Gleave. Victor Ruvalcaba’s ensuing 41-yard field goal attempt fell short, and Boulder City took over and ran out the clock.

“(O’Connor) stepped up when he had to,” Boulder City coach Alex Kazel said. “Seniors should step up and make plays. It’s not the exception; it’s the rule.”

Devin Combs carried 21 times for 57 yards for Boulder City, which held Virgin Valley (3-7) to 103 total yards in the second half.

“They’ve been the rock we’ve built on all season,” Kazel said of his defense, which has pitched four shutouts this season. “They hold teams down so we have a chance to win.”

Virgin Valley was unable to hold on to a 7-0 lead it took in the second quarter, when Zach Horlacher ran for a 1-yard TD.

“We just had to come together in the second half,” O’Connor said. “Everyone got a little fired up.”

Richard Vidal carried 24 times for 103 yards, and Gleave rushed for 79 yards on 11 attempts for the Bulldogs.

Boulder City faces a much larger task next week when it faces Truckee, which blew out Dayton 67-0 on Saturday.

“They’re the No. 1 team in 3A,” Kazel said. “We’re looking forward to getting our chance. There will be nothing left on the field when we’re done.”