high school football:

Moapa Valley defense doesn’t budge in win over Sunrise Mountain

Friday, Sept. 9, 2011 | 11:59 p.m.

The Great Northwest

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Las Vegas Sun sports reporters Ray Brewer and Case Keefer look ahead to another week of high school football and detail why the Northwest division appears to be the strongest in town. Palo Verde, Arbor View, Centennial, Cimarron and Cheyenne have all looked impressive in the early season.

One Sunrise Mountain statistic can appropriately summarize Friday’s game against Moapa Valley: -4 total offensive yards.

The Pirates defense kept the Miners on lockdown all evening en route to a 47-0 win. Defensive linemen Lane Stringham and Matthew McDermand were key in the imposing performance.

“They wreaked havoc in the backfield,” Moapa Valley coach Brent Lewis said. “The defensive line was a real force tonight. They couldn’t stop our defensive line.”

Moapa Valley also wore down Sunrise Mountain in the trenches offensively. The Pirates didn’t open up their passing game much, because it was unnecessary with the way the running backs were operating.

Conner Mortensen had some 165 yards and three touchdowns. Sean McConnell was close behind with about 140 yards and two touchdowns.

“I thought Sunrise Mountain was pretty solid defensively,” Lewis said. “They didn’t just roll over. They made us work for our yards.”

Sunrise Mountain had no first downs until the final two minutes of the game. After beating Sunrise Mountain and Chaparral the last two weeks by a combined score of 101-6, Moapa Valley faces a taller task its next time out with a meeting against Del Sol.