The Pahranagat Valley Panthers have reached what might have been thought to be an unreachable star, a milestone unique in 8-man football in the state with their 75th consecutive victory, a streak that began in 2008.
While one would have liked the game at Indian Springs last week to have been a tough, close fought, back and forth competitive battle, it wasn’t. The Panthers dominated the host Thunderbirds in all aspects and raced to an easy 62-0.
Wade Leavitt, Tabor Maxwell and David Ingram ran for two touchdowns apiece as PVHS (6-0, 4-0 Division IV Southern) blew by the Thunderbirds (0-5, 0-3).
Leavitt had five carries for 115 yards, and Ingram added 85 yards on three carries for Pahranagat Valley, which led 40-0 at halftime. Maxwell finished 11 of 13 for 120 yards and two TDs and had 21 yards rushing.
Jordan Cryts and Christian Higbee each hauled in receiving touchdowns.
Indian Springs’ Donald Watkins had seven carries for 24 yards, and teammate Ty White caught three passes for 19 yards.
The Panther defense thoroughly controlled Indian Springs’ ground game, rarely allowing the team to even get close to the red zone, causing the Thunderbirds at least 10 fourth down situations. One was a fourth and long from their own 12-yard line, which failed, and the Panthers scored two plays later on Maxwell’s six-yard keeper.
Alamo held Indian Springs to only 63 yards total offense while piling up 398 yards of their own despite having the ball less than half the time of possession.
Thunderbird coach Sope Faga said he thought this was the best game his team has played this season. “We came out with more intensity than we have shown. We’ve been lacking the whole year. We’re young, we’ll get better. That’s all we were looking for.”
Pahranagat coach Ken Higbee also said he thought the Indian Springs players “did a remarkable job for the experience and the (winless) season they’ve been having. I was real impressed with his kids.”
This Friday is Senior night for PVHS, the final home game of the regular season. They host surprising Sandy Valley, another unbeaten team (6-0, 4-0), enjoying the best season in the school’s short history.
On paper the teams appear somewhat similar. The Sidewinders are scoring 54.8 points per game and PVHS 58.7 points per game.
Sandy Valley is a little better on the ground with 295 yards per game average, to the Panthers 274 yards per game average.
Alamo has the better per game averaging in passing, 247 yards to 139 yards. Maxwell is 82-for-113 (73 percent) 1,233 yards and 17 touchdowns, and Sandy Valley’s Lane Eastham is 23-for-45 (51 percent), 573 yards and eight touchdowns.
As the rushing leaders, Eastham has 423 yards on 71 carries and nine touchdowns for Sandy Valley, compared to Leavitt’s with 874 yards on 57 carries, a hefty 15.33 per carry average, and 18 touchdowns.
In scoring, PVHS has 348 points and allowed only 49. Sandy Valley has 328 and allowed 102.
