Bulldogs claim 3A showdown

Jonathan Gleave had heard the talk that this was to be a rebuilding year for the Virgin Valley football team.

The Bulldogs, after all, lost four starting offensive linemen from 2007 and had only eight lettermen returning.

On Friday, Gleave helped Virgin Valley make a statement of its own.

The senior receiver scored three touchdowns, and the visiting Bulldogs held off a furious Faith Lutheran rally to win a Class 3A Southern League showdown, 33-20.

"I think we're better than everybody thinks," Gleave said. "We can go as far as we want to if we push it."

Gleave carried 10 times for 59 yards and two touchdowns and caught three passes for 39 yards and another score.

After Virgin Valley (5-1, 1-0) bolted to a 20-0 first-quarter lead, Faith Lutheran rallied to narrow the deficit to 27-20 at halftime. But the Crusaders (4-2, 0-1) were held scoreless in the second half.

Virgin Valley sacked Faith Lutheran sophomore quarterback Joe Portaro four times for 32 yards in losses.

"They spread it out, and we're going to pressure the quarterback," Virgin Valley coach Kirk Hafen said.

Portaro threw for 229 yards and three touchdowns, but Faith Lutheran was smothered for minus-13 yards on the ground. The Crusaders had no running play go for more than 9 yards.

Meanwhile, Virgin Valley's diverse wing-T offense saw Colton Teerlink (93 yards) lead a rushing attack that rolled up 190 yards on 35 attempts.

And Virgin Valley quarterback Terran Leavitt kept Faith Lutheran off balance with 112 yards passing and two touchdowns. The senior hit Gleave for a 27-yard scoring strike in the first quarter and Anthony Morris with a 37-yard touchdown in the second.

Don Pearson led Faith Lutheran with nine receptions for 134 yards and a score.

The Bulldogs, who are aiming for their first Class 3A state championship since 2006, sit atop the Southern League with Moapa Valley (3-2, 1-0).

"That's a good squad right there," Hafen said of Faith Lutheran. "In our league, every game's going to be close."

• Moapa Valley 35, Boulder City 13 -- At Overton, Brad Weiss rushed for 253 yards and two TDs as the Pirates (3-2, 1-0 3A Southern League) downed the Eagles (3-2, 0-1).

Moapa Valley rushed for 438 yards.

"Our offensive line opened some huge holes out there," Weiss said. "When you do that and provide cutback lanes, you're going to run for this type of yardage."

Weiss' younger brother, Kelan, started at quarterback in place of Max Jenkins and was 3-for-7 for 49 yards.

Just before halftime, Boulder City scored on a 7-yard run by Jeremy Smith to cut the Moapa Valley lead to 13-7.

But the Pirates iced the game with consecutive touchdowns by Weiss, fullback Jake Pearce and fullback Alex Huerta.

Moapa Valley had 487 yards of offense, and Boulder City could muster only 159 yards.

"It felt good to get that type of production from our running game," Moapa Valley coach Brent Lewis said. "We worked on it all week, and while it would have been nice to have aired it out a little more, we'll take it."

-- Jon Oglesby

• The Meadows 48, White Pine 13 -- At The Meadows, freshman quarterback Gerard Martinez threw for three touchdowns and ran for another to help keep the Mustangs unbeaten in Class 2A Southern League play.

The Meadows (5-1, 3-0) coasted after leading 27-0 at the end of the first quarter and 40-6 at halftime.

Martinez completed 4 of 8 passes for 98 yards and carried twice for 72 yards.

• Tonopah 71, Indian Springs 29 -- At Tonopah, the Muckers rolled after leading 42-21 at halftime.

Tonopah (3-2, 3-0 Class 1A Southern League) has scored 146 points in its last two games.

• Calvary Chapel 12, West Wendover 7 -- At Mountain View, the Lions held on to a 12-7 halftime lead to improve to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the Class 2A Southern League.