For the second week on a row, the Virgin Valley High School Bulldogs football team faced a coaches poll top 10 all-leagues opponent and were shutout.
The Pirates from Moapa Valley High School traveled back to the Moapa Valley last Friday night, Oct. 9 with a 34-0 win over the host Bulldogs. The Pirates win was their 12th in a row over the Dawgs.
Bulldog lineman (from left to right) Arden Bundy #64, Jayden Perkins #33 and Chase Henderson #89 put defensive pressure on Pirate quarterback Nate Cox during the Dawgs 34-0 loss Friday night in the Dawg Pound. Photo by Lou Martin
The Bulldogs could not match up well with all-everything wide receiver/back R.J. Hubert who burned the Dawgs for two long touchdown receptions in the fourth quarter.
The Bulldogs received the opening kickoff and ran two first downs but were stopped on the Pirates 23 yard line. An attempted field goal by the Dawgs sailed wide left. The Pirates followed the Dawgs with two first downs but fumbled the ball away with Arden Bundy recovering giving the Dawgs a first and ten from the 41 yard line. The Dawgs could not take advantage of the Pirate miscue and ran out of downs on the Pirates 31 yard line. The period ended with the Pirates driving at their 48 yard line.
The Bulldog defense shut the Pirates down to begin the second period. Facing a fourth and long the Pirates punt attempt sailed over the Pirate kicker giving the Dawgs a first and 10 from the Pirates 14 yard line. Bulldog Kai Mitchell ripped off 7 yards to the 7 yard line, Josh Bishop picked up two yards forcing a fourth and one from the Pirates five yard line.
The Pirates held and took possession on their five yard line. Seconds later Sterling Simmons was in the end zone on a 95 yard scamper. The extra point kick failed making the score 6-0 in favor of the Pirates. Hubert was instrumental in freeing Simmons for the T.D. making a huge block on a Bulldog defensive back.
The Dawgs could not sustain a drive on their next possession from their 31 yard line. The Bulldogs punt netted 24 yards giving the Pirates field position from their own 45 yard line. The Pirates drove to the Dawgs 8 yard line where quarterback Nate Cox took it in for six points. The two point conversion was good giving the Pirates a 14-0 lead with 5:09 remaining in the first half of play.
The teams traded possessions to finish the half but the Pirates were on the one yard line when the whistle blew ending the period. The big story of the first half of play was the Bulldogs not taking advantage of Pirate errors and giving up the long play.
The Bulldogs surprised the Pirates with an onside kick to begin the third period of play. The Dawgs recovered on the Pirate 44 yard line. Bulldog Cody Jones ripped the Pirates line for two first downs giving the Dawgs a first down on the 24 yard line. Once again the Pirate defense stiffened holding the Dawgs on the 21 yard line. The Bulldog defense again stopped the Pirates forcing a punt, which was fumbled by the Dawg return man.
The teams traded possessions with the Pirates starting their next drive from their 20 yard line. The Pirates scored quickly on a Trystin Deal 70 yard scamper for six points the point after kick failed giving the Pirates a 20-0 lead after three periods of play.
The fourth period was all Hubert as he scored on pass plays of 41 yards and 58 yards from Cox. The last play featured a one handed grab in full stride and weaving his way through the Dawg defense for the score.
The final found the Pirates on top 34-0.
The Pirates had 280 yards on the ground and 168 yards in the air. Hubert had eight balls for 151 yards of the Pirates total. The Bulldogs managed 66 yards in the air, plus runners Jones and Mitchell gaining 46 and 42 yards respectively. Bulldog Trevon Hollingshead had a great game with 8 tackles including a Q.B sack.
“We couldn’t execute,” Bulldog Coach Yori Ludvigson exhorted to his young squad after the game. “We made to many mistakes. We need to take advantage of turnovers and play our game.”
The Bulldogs travel to Chaparral Friday, Oct. 16 to face the 3-1 Cowboys who are coming off a 65-7 shellacking of Boulder City. Their quarterback threw for 250 yards and five touchdowns in the win. The Dawgs record fell to 1-3 in league play and 3-4 overall.
