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Ralph Freso / Special to the Sun
Moapa Valley running back Jake Repp looks to an official for a touchdown call against Blue Ridge High during the fourth quarter of the 2012 AIA Sollenberger Classic football game on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012 | 6:36 p.m.
Prep Sports Now
The Return of Football Season
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Las Vegas Sun sports reporters Ray Brewer and Case Keefer are back with a comprehensive — or some would say long-winded — look at high school football. They go division-by-division and team-by-team in this exhaustive 2012 debut. So settle in on the couch with a Snuggie or plan to make a round-trip drive from Boulder City to Shadow Ridge in order to listen to this one.
GLENDALE, Ariz.— This series symbolized a first game full of mistakes for the Moapa Valley High football team Saturday night.
With four minutes remaining during the Sollenberger Classic’s small-school game at the University of Phoenix Stadium and the Pirates trailing by 15 points, they caught a small break when Blue Ridge High fumbled trying to run out the clock.
After a few pass completions, Moapa Valley brought the ball to the Blue Ridge 1-yard line. However, they failed to score on four straight plays, eventually losing 23-14.
The series, which included a 5-yard illegal procedure penalty and a quarterback overthrowing an open receiver in the end zone, resembled most of the game for the Overton school.
“You have to give credit to Blue Ridge,” Moapa Valley coach Brent Lewis said. “They were the more disciplined football team. But I have really have to say we gave them a lot of gifts tonight. It seemed like most of the things they got was beneficial for us giving it to them.
“I thought we played well enough to win if we can figure out how to run a play once in awhile.”
Moapa Valley suffered through four turnovers, nine penalties for 76 yards and more than its share of mental mistakes.
Last year, Moapa Valley rallied for a 28-26 victory in the Sollenberger game, using a strong running game and perfectly executing down the stretch for the victory.
Even though Conner Mortensen rushed for a game high 112 yards on 19 carries this year, Moapa Valley struggled to rally when it had to pass. The Pirates’ three quarterback combined to go 6-for-15 for 70 yards with three interceptions.
“We knew we were going to have quarterback issues,” Lewis said. “I was waiting for one of those kids to step up and take the reigns. It is just the little things — calling the right formation, sending the guy in motion. We are struggling with the little things.
“I know we can fix those things, and once we do, we are a much better football team.”
Moapa Valley led briefly in the second quarter when Mortensen scored on a 1-yard run and Jake Repp connected with Chad Jones on a wide receiver option for the 2-point conversion and an 8-7 lead.
Four minutes later, however, Blue Ridge’s Ben Watson returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown and 14-8 Blue Ridge lead. The Arizona school would never again trail.
Moapa Valley’s defense was solid all night in limited Blue Ridge to 266 yards, but 70 of those came on a long touchdown reception by Watson for a 7-0 lead with 58 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
While Moapa Valley didn’t open its season like last year, they are still expected to be a Nevada power and make a deep playoff run. They’ve reached the state title game the past three seasons.
“We weren’t able to focus. We shot ourselves in the foot a lot,” Mortensen said. “We have to be better mentally. We have to get more reps with our quarterbacks in practice. We have potential to be a good passing team. We just have to find it.”
The Sollenberger game, like it did last year, gives them plenty of valuable experience to make the rest of the season equally memorable. Win or lose, playing in the event — which, of course, is hosted at a NFL stadium — is a game the players won’t soon forget.
That’s especially true for Sean McConnell, who returned a punt 40 yards for a touchdown on the game’s final play.
“We were disappointed with the loss, but this was still fun,” Mortensen said. “It’s always fun to be here.”
Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or ray.brewer@lasvegassun.com. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21.
So close. Kudos to Moapa and Mortensen, he's a hard hitter. Two red zone drives aware from a win. Lesson learned. Dust off and get ready the new 3A awaits your return.
That was a sloppy and ugly game for both teams, unfortunately Moapa made a few more mistakes then Blue Ridge. The 5 yd pass that went for a 70 yds TD and pick six in the first half were the difference in the game. I wasn't impressed with #33 Cox for blue ridge. He was supposed to be a 4 star recruit and best LB in Arizona. Rivals.com had him as the 51st best recruit in the entire nation. He was a non-factor and didn't look very impressive. Moapa looked sluggish overall, but they need to fix their passing issues if they want to win state in their new league.
agreed on Cox..maybe a bad game? No disrespect to Arizona but last year Connor Brewer and Davonte Neal wholeheartedly underwhelmed as 4 star recruits, that's two years in a row the stars were non factors. Both Brewer and Neal went on to have stellar seasons but week 1 was definitely not a good look for them, add Cox to that list.
Okay, I know I will probably take some heat for this, but here goes anyway...
The Sollenberger Classic is nothing more than a glorified scrimmage...
The two teams that earned the right to play in it don't even exist anymore, the Seniors have graduated and moved on.
We ALL know that a team in "Week 1" is vastly different than that same team come playoff time.
Case in point, the Cheyenne vs. Desert Pines game, to open their season next Thursday.
These two teams, along with the Moapa Valley Pirates, are considered the "favorites" in the newly formed Southern Division I-A.
However, I would suggest to you that you will see plenty of mistakes, miscues, false start penalties, offsides penalties, etc.
While it may give just a glimpse of what these teams may ultimately be, the game film from Cheyenne @ Desert Pines will be of little use come November.
Don't expect Moapa Valley to be making that many mistakes in November either...
Let's get this party started...
No need for heat that's a solid assessment. It's absolutely true and the reason we have scrimmages. Unfortunately for Palo it was on a national stage.
I think it's the exact reason why Liberty lost my 20+ to Arbor View to start last season and by seasons end was the only local team who could keep up with Gorman. They were a much different team from that first game, no disrespect to Arbor View.
LTG, I don't think anyone is confusing this game with a championship type game (although the teams in it may very well be there in a couple months). I know Moapa and Palo Verde didn't even have scrimmages against anyone last week like the Arizona teams did, so this was their first action against someone besides themselves. I think the sollenberger is a great event that pits quality teams against each other. It's all about giving the kids a chance to play in a great venue against stuff competition. I don't see a downside to playing in it. I know Moapa has loved it the last two years
With the new 3A, basically 4A Division 2, will there still be a second invitation to the Sollenberger? Is there a possibility for Cheyenne or Desert Pines to go next year?
AbsurdQuantities,
Wouldn't Cheyenne or Desert Pines have to actually Win State, or at least finish Runner Up in the new Division I-A, before someone just punches their ticket to the Sollenberger Classic?
Moapa Valley has been in the State Title game for the last Six years in a row, and won it twice, in '07 & '08.
Let's not pass the torch just yet, perhaps we should play the 2012 Season, before deciding who gets invited to the Sollenberger Classic in August of 2013.