The Jaguars from Desert Pines High School showed Friday night why they are one of the top football programs in Southern Nevada, by controlling the ball and defeating Virgin Valley 48-0. The Jaguars were quicker, taller and had the size of a college program throughout their roster.
Diminutive, but with heart of a lion, Bulldog running back Marcello Lara returns a Jaguar kickoff Friday night in the Dawg Pound. Photo by Lou Martin
The game began with the Jaguars winning the toss and deferring possession to the second half of play. The Dawgs received the kickoff and proceeded to go three and out punting to the Jaguars. The Jaguars took all of 40 seconds to hit pay-dirt on two pass completions. Bulldog Chase Henderson broke through the line blocking the extra point attempt making the score 6-0 a minute and a half into the game. The Bulldogs managed two first downs on their next possession but fumbled on their 45 yard line. Two passes later totaling 56 yards gave the Jaguars a 12-0 advantage. The extra point try failed. The Jaguars were serious about putting the Dawgs away early, recovering an on-side kick on the $7 yard line. The Bulldog defense stiffened and held the Jaguars without a score. The first period ended with the Jaguars on the Dawgs 12 yard line.
The Jaguars scored in seven seconds of the second quarter for a 19-0 advantage. The huge Desert Pines defense held the Dawgs while their offense put up another 16 points on the board for a 35-0 lead. The Dawgs managed only two first downs in the second period. The Jaguars added insult to injury, calling two timeouts in the last 53 seconds and scored on a long pass to end the first half of play and a 42-0 advantage. Not only were the Dawgs in a big hole after one half of play, they lost two of their top players to injury. Josh Bishop was taken to the hospital with an apparent rib injury and Bulldog stalwart Chase Henderson, gutting out playing after the death of his dad, left the field with a shoulder injury.
The second half of play was played with a running clock due to league mercy rules. The only score of the second half came on a fumbled snap which was returned for a Jaguar touchdown making the final score Jaguars 48-0 over the hometown Dawgs. Sophomore linebacker Jayden Perkins had an outstanding game to highlight the Dawgs defense.
The pressure doesn’t let up for the Dawgs as they face arch-rival Moapa Valley on Friday, October 9. The Pirates committed 8 turnovers in their 34-20 loss to the Jaguars earlier in the season.
