Moapa Valley High

Moapa Valley hoping to 'prove everyone wrong again' at Sollenberger Classic: Friday, August 17, 2012; High school football: Pirates take on Blue Ridge in first of two games Saturday at University of Phoenix Stadium; By Case Keefer; When Moapa Valley running back Conner Mortensen looks back on his high school football career years from now, he knows one of the first memories will be his team’s dramatic victory in the 2011 Sollenberger Classic. Moapa Valley shocked Arizona’s Show Low, 28-26, at the University of Phoenix Stadium behind a breakout performance from then-junior Mortensen.

Moapa Valley downs Lowry to reach 3A state championship game: Sunday, November 13, 2011; By Case Keefer; Moapa Valley is headed to the 3A state championship game once again. The Pirates clinched their spot by beating visiting Lowry, 19-6, on Saturday. Moapa Valley will meet familiar foe Truckee in the title game next weekend.

Moapa Valley ekes out playoff win in overtime against Virgin Valley: Saturday, November 5, 2011; high school football:; By Case Keefer; A Dylan Mortensen extra point in overtime saved Moapa Valley from a shocking first round playoff upset to rival Virgin Valley Saturday afternoon. Mortensen booted the extra point through the uprights moments after his brother, Conner Mortensen, broke through in the end zone. Moapa Valley escaped with a 13-12 victory at home.

Moapa Valley wraps up 3A Southern league title with victory over Boulder City: Friday, October 28, 2011; high school football:; By Case Keefer; Moapa Valley’s defense had carried the team the past two weeks. It was the offense’s turn in a 41-19 victory over league opponent Boulder City Thursday night. An offensive explosion led the Pirates out of an early 13-7 hole on the road and gave them the top seed in the 3A South division.

Moapa Valley capitalizes on Silverado mistakes en route to big win: Saturday, October 22, 2011; high school football:; By Case Keefer; The Moapa Valley defense is playing like one of Southern Nevada’s most elite units. The Pirates notched their second straight shutout Friday night by beating Silverado 27-0.

Moapa Valley finds success once again in the Hammer Game: Saturday, October 15, 2011; high school football: Moapa held rival Virgin Valley to less than 40 yards of total offense; By Case Keefer; OVERTON — Legend has it, at least by the understanding of Brent Lewis, that the hammer Moapa Valley and Virgin Valley play for annually in football spent more than 30 years in Mesquite. The rival 3A high schools began competing for the de facto trophy in the 1950s, but had to stop in the 1970s when the prank of stealing the hammer from the winning team became too prevalent. The hammer wasn’t reintroduced until the two schools’ principals reached an agreement in 2007.<

Legacy beats Moapa Valley in thriller: Wednesday, October 5, 2011; high school football:; By Case Keefer; Legacy was able to hold off a pesky effort from Moapa Valley en route to a 33-30 victory Thursday night. The Longhorns led by 10 in the fourth quarter before the Pirates cut the margin to a field goal. Moapa Valley couldn’t capitalize any further and Legacy escaped to snap a two-game losing streak.

Moapa Valley cruises past another opponent in lopsided victory: Saturday, October 1, 2011; high school football:; By Case Keefer; Moapa Valley excelled in one final tune-up before hitting the meat of its schedule Friday night. Behind five combined touchdowns from running backs Conner Mortensen and Sean McConnell, Moapa Valley demolished visiting Faith Lutheran 59-26. It was the Pirates' fourth consecutive win.

After big win against large-school power, 3A Moapa Valley breaks into Sun's top-10 rankings: Tuesday, September 27, 2011; prep football:; By Ray Brewer; The Moapa Valley High football team showed last Friday what several supporters of the Overton school have long argued: the Pirates are one of the state’s best. Moapa Valley rallied from a 10-point first-quarter deficit against perennial 4A classification power Del Sol for a 49-40 victory — a signature win of sorts to prove they belong to be mentioned with the state’s best. Fittingly, the 3A classification school debuts this week in the Sun’s top-10 rankings.

Moapa Valley deals Del Sol its first loss of the season: Saturday, September 24, 2011; high school football:; By Case Keefer; In case anyone wasn’t convinced of Moapa Valley’s place among the top teams in Southern Nevada this season, the Pirates proved it again Friday night. Moapa Valley took down perennial Henderson power Del Sol, 49-40.

Moapa Valley defense doesn't budge in win over Sunrise Mountain: Friday, September 9, 2011; high school football:; By Case Keefer; 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.

Moapa Valley back on winning track after routing Chaparral: Friday, September 2, 2011; high school football:; By Case Keefer; Moapa Valley traveled nearly a combined 1,000 miles to play in its first two games of the season. Therefore, it had to feel nice to be in the comfort of its home stadium Friday night. The final score indicated as much, as Moapa Valley improved to 2-1 with a 54-6 win over Chaparral.

Moapa Valley comes out flat, gets shut out in Utah: Friday, August 26, 2011; high school football:; By Case Keefer; During one point of his team’s game at Desert Hills (Utah) Friday night, Moapa Valley coach Brent Lewis had to wonder if playing in an NFL stadium was the only way he could get his players focused.

Moapa Valley becomes first Nevada team to win in Sollenberger Classic: Saturday, August 20, 2011; HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Upset-minded Pirates rally in the second half to take down the Cougars; By Case Keefer; GLENDALE, Ariz. — The huddle the Moapa Valley players circled in before the second half of Saturday’s game against Arizona’s Show Low High seemed as loud as a heavy metal concert and as bouncy as a mosh pit. No one could make out the exact words their teammates were trying to convey. The message got across, though.

Moapa Valley gets some well-deserved attention after upset victory: Saturday, August 20, 2011; By Ray Brewer; On most Friday nights after a game, Moapa Valley High football coach Brent Lewis shakes hands with the opposing players and coaches, gives a short interview to the Overton paper and heads into his office to analyze the game with the coaching staff.