Dave Maxwell: Pahranagat on defense against Tonopah in the Homecoming game last week. Pahranagat won 56-0 for their record 99th consecutive victory.
Goliath faced Goliath last Friday night in Alamo for Homecoming as the Panthers faced off with rival Tonopah. Two unbeaten teams, but at the end of the day it was the Pahranagat Valley version of Goliath that came out ahead. The Panthers thoroughly dominated all aspects in routing the Muckers 56-0.
Motivated by an article in the Pahrump Valley Times, and fired up by all the spirit generated from Homecoming week, the Panthers were out to bury the Muckers from the beginning. And so they did, building up a 42-0 halftime lead.
Tabor Maxwell completed 14 of 20 passes for 360 yards and five touchdowns, ran for 63 yards and two scores to lead Pahranagat Valley (6-0, 4-0 1A Southern).
Associate coach Brett Hansen said, “Our defense was excellent. We trusted our reads and were able to make the plays to win and hold them scoreless, and that’s always a plus.”
He added, “Our offensive play was awesome, too. On any pass play there was tons of protection for Tabor, never any hurry, our line gave him plenty of time. We tried to run in the middle a little bit but found success on the outside for long runs.”
It was the 99th consecutive win for the team as they continue to add to their national, 8-man record. It was also the 22nd shutout during the streak. Pahranagat has now beaten Tonopah 18 times in a row, by an average score of 56-10.
Tonopah (5-1, 3-1 1A Southern), came into the game averaging 552.8 total yards per game with quarterback Tanner Otteson leading the way with 119.4 passing yards and 137.4 rushing. But the Pahranagat defense limited The Muckers to 194 total yards while racking up 651 yards themselves, including 291 yards rushing on 23 carries.
Otteson was 15-for-25 passing, 158 yards, and three interceptions, plus rushing for just 29 yards on four carries and Vincent Bagarose was held to only six yards on seven carries.
Pahranagat offensive coordinator Brian Higbee said, “The kids were up for this game first of all, an important conference game to determine seeding. The kids executed very well, both running and passing. Overall, we looked pretty sharp. The line did a great job of protecting and Tabor was throwing lasers and the kids were catching them. Quite a combination when we have that going. Our receivers are running real good routes.”
Only two schools in the history of high school football in the United States have won 100 or more consecutive games, De LaSalle (Concord, CA), 151, between 1992-2003, and Independence (Charlotte, North Carolina), 109, between 2000-2007. PVHS could become the third with a victory at winless Indian Springs tonight.
Ike Taylor had five carries for 140 yards and two touchdowns, and 6-9 Culen Highbe had three catches for 141 yards and two TDs. Cody Williams added six catches for 114 yards and two scores for the Pahranagat. Vinny Bagarose had eight receptions for 88 yards to lead Tonopah.
Maxwell had the second longest touchdown pass of his career, a 90-yard score to Highbe at 3:54 of the first quarter.
Elsewhere today, Tonopah played at Springs Mountain this afternoon for third place in the league.
