Defense helps Moapa Valley to key win

MESQUITE -- Brad Weiss didn't see anything too spectacular about his interception return for a touchdown Thursday night.

After all, it was only one of four passes Moapa Valley intercepted.

Weiss picked off two passes and carried 26 times for 132 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Pirates to a crucial 35-20 win at rival Virgin Valley.

"I was just playing outside linebacker and supposed to drop in the flats," Weiss said of his 23-yard interception return for a score. "I did, and (Terran Leavitt) threw it right to me."

With the win, Moapa Valley (7-2, 3-0) won the Class 3A Southern League regular-season title and earned the South's No. 1 seed for the 3A state playoffs.

The Pirates also avoid a trip to a North team's field for the second round, which could be the position Virgin Valley (8-2, 2-1) finds itself in.

Both teams will open the postseason at home next week -- Moapa Valley against Faith Lutheran and Virgin Valley against Boulder City.

"It's really exciting, especially the biggest part -- not having to travel up north for the first round of the state playoffs," said Weiss, a senior. "That's a big thing for us."

Max Jenkins and Jake Pearce also picked off passes for Moapa Valley.

"They throw the ball well, and we were able to make a few plays," Pirates coach Brent Lewis said of the four interceptions.

The Bulldogs struggled offensively without standout receiver Anthony Morris, who said he probably is done for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Leavitt completed 13 of 24 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions for Virgin Valley, which also was picked off on Ty Tait's halfback pass.

Jonathan Gleave caught seven passes for 115 yards and two TDs for Virgin Valley.

But the Bulldogs were stifled for 17 yards rushing on 18 attempts.

"In the second half our kids stepped up and took control," said Lewis, whose team outscored the Bulldogs 21-6 after halftime. "We were a little more physical in that second half than they were."

• Mountain View 40, White Pine 8 -- At Mountain View, Raymond Velarde completed all 10 pass attempts, rushed for 82 yards and had a hand in four touchdowns as the Saints beat the Bobcats, qualifying for the Class 2A Southern League playoffs in their first year of 11-man football.

Mountain View (4-6, 4-3) blanked White Pine (2-7, 2-5) on eight possessions, limiting the Bobcats to 118 yards of offense. Their touchdown came on Dallas Lewis' 3-yard fumble return.

Saints running back Cortland LeBoeuf rushed for 103 yards on seven carries, including a 71-yard touchdown.

-- Matt Maxson

• Desert Oasis 28, Boulder City 27 -- At Desert Oasis, quarterback Brennen Stott and wideout Elijah Mitchell hooked up for the tying touchdown with 1:07 left in regulation and the winning score in overtime, lifting the Diamondbacks over the Eagles.

Boulder City got the ball first in the extra session and scored on a 3-yard run by quarterback Jake Phillips. But the extra-point try missed wide right.

Stott, who sent the game to overtime with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Mitchell, found him again for an 11-yard score. Stott also booted the decisive extra point.

-- Brian Danise

• Lincoln County 73, Calvary Chapel 26 -- At Panaca, Trent Tibbits led an explosive rushing attack with 142 yards and four touchdowns as Lincoln County (7-3, 6-1 Class 2A Southern League) pulled away after leading 30-20 at halftime.

The Lynx, The Meadows and Needles finished in a three-way tie for first place in the league, with Lincoln County receiving the South's top seed for the state playoffs because of a tiebreaker.

• The Meadows 42, West Wendover 8 -- At West Wendover, Pat Kenny rushed for 120 yards and three touchdowns and also caught a TD pass to help the Mustangs (8-2, 6-1 Class 2A Southern League) build a 42-0 lead through three quarters in rout of the Wolverines (1-8, 1-6).

• Indian Springs 54, Spring Mountain 36 -- At Indian Springs, Adam Reinke threw for 209 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for a 30-yard score to help the Thunderbirds (5-4, 3-3 Southern League) clinch the South's final playoff spot in Class 1A.

David Edwards had two touchdown runs and a touchdown reception for the Eagles (3-6, 2-4).