August 25, 2012

Will Levi
NevadaPrepReport.com Publisher

Mojave joined the group of former 4A schools making the drop to 1A in learning that winning at the 1A level won't be a cake walk. Known for a more disciplined version of football and a physical level of play, the former 3A schools had a great first week of football going 3-0.

Opening the game in the double wing, the Boulder City Eagles quickly took control of the line of scrimmage on a powerful opening drive capping it with a 4-yard J.D. Owens run. A two point conversion made the game 8-0 five minutes after kickoff.

Mojave had major struggles in the first half running a crisp offense but a 24-yard interception return by Tyrek Evans gave the Rattlers a bit of a spark making the score 8-6 near the end of the first quarter.

The score would remain the same at the half as the Eagles drove into Rattler territory but tossed an interception Rattler star linebacker Billy Murphy ending the threat.

With Murphy out nearly the entire second half, the Eagles opened the third quarter strong before fumbling at the 12-yard line just before the end of the quarter. The next drive, they made it count punching it in a 2-yards out on a D.J. Koopman run as well as another two point conversion making the score 16-6.
Mojave caught fire through the air midway through the fourth quarter when Marcus Hines began to make big plays through the air with sophomore quarterback Zack Arave hitting fellow sophomore Marcus Parker from 15-yards out to close the gap at 16-13 with 3:07 left.

The Rattlers would get a stop on the next drive but could close the gap no further falling 16-13.

For the Rattlers, they opened with a multi-set spread based offense and ran into trouble with penalties and missed assignments all game long. With a limited bench, they had trouble with injuries breaking in six key sophomores.

For Boulder City, the double wing favored their personnel. If they maintain quality defensive play this season, they are a team that is capable of earning a playoff slot.

Fellow former 3A schools, Moapa Valley and Virgin Valley, also won. The Pirates dominated Pahrump Valley 45-7 while Virgin Valley finished off Clark 53-13.