The Moapa Valley football team’s bus ride from Overton to Elko for the Class 3A state semifinals included a practice stop in Ely, roughly the halfway point of their journey.

The Pirates fine-tuned their preparation for a showdown against Elko — but it won’t be their last practice of the season. They still have a championship to win.

Despite trailing 21-3 early in the first half, Moapa Valley never stopped believing. The Pirates shut down Elko’s offense, allowing just seven more points the rest of the way, and stormed back for a 43-27 victory to punch their ticket to next week’s state championship game against Churchill County of Fallon at UNR.

“We were pretty upset at that point,” Moapa Valley coach Brent Lewis said after his team surrendered its third touchdown. “I tell you what, from

See Full Page