Stakes high in rivalry

There's always something special about playing a rival school in high school football. And one local rivalry seems to get better every year.

Moapa Valley (8-3) and Virgin Valley (11-1) play at 1 p.m. today at Clark High for the Class 3A state championship.

It's the second straight year the team's have met for the title.

"Just when you think the rivalry can't get better, we just kind of added another chapter to it this year," Moapa Valley coach Brent Lewis said.

Virgin Valley defeated the Pirates 10-7 to win last year's title game. It was the 11th state football title for the Bulldogs and the 10th since 1970. Moapa Valley has won 13 titles, with the first coming in 1943.

This year's 3A championship game originally was scheduled to be played in Reno, but with two Southern Nevada advancing to the title game, it was moved to Clark.

That will allow more of the teams' rabid fans to attend.

"Both towns shut down, and it's just fun," Virgin Valley coach Kirk Hafen said.

In addition to winning last year's title game, the Bulldogs also beat Moapa Valley 34-14 earlier this season. Virgin Valley has a significant size advantage up front, with a defensive line that averages 244 pounds, and an offensive front that averages 231.

Only two of Moapa Valley's starting offensive linemen weigh 200 pounds.

"We know we've got to be more physical," Lewis said. "Their big front line was a major factor in the game, and we've got to find a way to deal with it."

One way to counteract Virgin Valley's size advantage will be with speed.

"They're definitely quicker than us," Hafen said. "I hate to say it, but I think we're a little stronger up front. It kind of evens itself out in the outcome."

Both coaches know there will be few surprises between teams that have played each other so often.

"We've seen what they do 1,000 times, and the same with them," Lewis said. "It's a matter of making the right adjustment at the right times. It's definitely going to be a chess match."

And Lewis isn't afraid to praise his team's rival.

"We're bitter rivals, but at the same time, we have a tremendous amount of respect for each other," Lewis said. "Kirk's a good friend of mine, and I really admire what they do.

"Right now they're the standard, and we're trying to get where they're at."

Yerington (10-1) faces Needles (10-1) for the Class 2A title at 3 p.m. today at Damonte Ranch High in Reno. Yerington is seeking its first state title since 1981, while Needles (Calif.) hopes to win its first Nevada state football title.

Tonopah (11-1) seeks its first state football title when it plays Carlin (9-2) for the Class 1A title at noon at Damonte Ranch.

Contact Prep Sports Editor Damon Seiters at dseiters@reviewjournal.com or (702) 380-4587.