Dave Maxwell
Pahranagat Valley sometimes uses signboards to signal in plays during a game.
Facing their biggest test of the season, Pahranagat Valley (5-0, 3-0) plays at Spring Mountain (5-1, 3-0) on Friday, Oct. 19, in a game that will decide the league championship as well as who gets the No. 1 seed in the league playoffs that begin Nov. 2.
The Eagles-Panthers rivalry has become something of the norm in the 1A Southern League.
Pahranagat Valley High School (PVHS) has won the league championship the past 15 consecutive years with Spring Mountain being runner-up every year since 2011.
In addition, the Eagles have been the state finals runner-up to Pahranagat four times and won the title in 2016.
Pahranagat Valley has averaged 26.7 points per first quarter to 25 points for Spring Mountain. In the fourth quarter, the Eagles have a bit of an edge, averaging 10.5 points to Pahranagat’s 6.7.
The 1A playoff pairings this year have the No. 1 Southern hosting the No. 2. Central and the No. 2 Southern traveling to the No. 1 Central.
Tonopah (7-0, 2-0) and Mineral County (5-2, 3-0) are currently tied for the lead in the Central League and will play to determine the league champion in Hawthorne, Oct. 25.
Tonopah lost last year’s game in Hawthorne 82-56 as Robert McFalls and Austin Tweedy ran all over the Muckers for 451 yards and nine touchdowns. McFalls also passed for 196 yards.
Tweedy has since graduated and McFalls is now the tailback.
Mineral County did not make the playoffs last year in the 1A Northwest, but do have a strong chance now in the Central League.
Pahranagat Valley will finish the regular season on Oct. 25, hosting league newcomer Green Valley Christian of Henderson.
The Guardians (2-5, 2-2) did not play last week, but have posted victories over Indian Springs and Beaver Dam.
The Guardians did not take it easy this year, not scheduling any JV teams and opening with three games against Class 2A teams.
Not having a home field to play on, all their games were on the road.
Coach Andrew Lal said, “We know that we need to improve each and every day, and our goal is to be competitive each week in our division. This group is beginning a tradition that will hopefully make our school and community proud for many years to come.”
