FSM Essential Recap: Las Vegas High School Football - Playoffs Round 1 - 2022

FSM Essential Recap: Las Vegas High School Football – Playoffs Round 1 – 2022

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The first round of the 2022 high school football playoffs is a wrap! After an exciting first week of the postseason, teams across the valley have either stamped their tickets to the next round or have turned their pads in for the year. This week, the FSM Prep Rally traveled to Sierra Vista as the Mountain Lions hosted the Durango Trailblazers. 

Since their first matchup in Week 2, both teams finished the year with similar seasons, scoring and surrendering around the same points and finishing third in their leagues. This week, the two teams faced off for a second time this year, with playoff implications and their seasons on the line.

Sierra Vista survives an overtime thriller as they defeat Durango, 35-29 :

Thursday night was absolute chaos as the Sierra Vista Mountain Lions hosted the Durango Trailblazers for the first round of the 2022 playoffs. With multiple turnovers, controversial calls, last-minute scoring drives, and an overtime finish, Sierra Vista edged out the victory and avenged their week two loss to Durango in a nail-biting first-round game.

The madness started in the first quarter after Sierra Vista forced Durango to go 3-and-out on their first drive.

After receiving the ball following the Durango punt, multiple flags backed the Mountain Lions to their own 10-yard line and ended their first drive as they were forced to punt the ball back to Durango. The Trailblazers wouldn’t have the ball for long as Sierra Vista forced a sack-fumble on the following play, then drove the ball down to set up a 27-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Tarrance Masnica. Sierra Vista would quickly get the ball back following the score after another forced fumble recovery on the ensuing drive to end the first quarter.

The tides turned in the second quarter as Sierra Vista committed their own turnover after fumbling on a rush attempt. The Trailblazers took advantage of the opportunity, and with two long rushing attempts, Durango was able to get on the board and even the score, 7-7. Following multiple failed drives by both offenses, Durango would take over at the 10-yard line and score their second rushing touchdown, claiming a 14-7 lead.

After committing their third turnover the next drive with an interception, Sierra Vista was in desperate need to get positive momentum. With under a minute left in the half, the Mountain Lions finally found success in the second quarter. Forcing Durango to punt, Sierra Vista returned the kick to the opposing 10-yard line and scored a touchdown with a two-point conversion to end the half with a 15-14 lead.

The Second half began with the FSM player of the game, sophomore Adonis Vaughn, returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown and the Moutain Lions getting the two-point conversion, making the score 23-14. The lead was short-lived for Sierra Vista as Durango drove the length of the field and scored on the next drive. The quarter would end with Durango blocking Sierra Vista’s punt and getting the ball near the opposing 19-yard line.

Durango resumed their possession at the beginning of the fourth quarter and finished the drive with a touchdown pass, giving them a 26-23 lead after another failed two-point conversion attempt. Sierra Vista would trail for most of the quarter, and within the last minutes of regulation, the Mountain Lions were backed up to their own 7-yard line, with Durango threatening to go up two scores.

With the season on the line, Sierra Vista’s defense came up with the big play and intercepted a pass in the endzone, giving the offense a shot to win. After three failed attempts to move the ball, Sierra Vista decided to go for it on 4th down on their own 20. The Mountain Lions lined up to go for a deep pass. As Masnica dropped back and chucked a 60-yard throw, a receiver had his man beat and was running free down the field. The ball just met the receiver’s hands when another Mountain Lion receiver ran into his teammate, forcing the pass to be incomplete.

Just as Durango’s sideline erupted with cheers, a flag was thrown near the line of scrimmage. A roughing the passer was called, and after being penalized frequently through most of the game, Sierra Vista finally caught a lucky call. From there, the Mountain Lions drove down the length of the field and scored with 1:44 left in the period.

It was Durango’s turn to fight for their season, starting on their 20-yard line. On first down, Durango attempted a pass that Sierra Vista intercepted, but a holding penalty erased the turnover. After a 5-yard run, the Trailblazers attempted another pass, but the quarterback was sacked and called for intentional grounding, putting Durango at 3rd and 25. The Trailblazers tried to throw for the first down, but the ball was incomplete after multiple players from both sides bobbled the catch. Durango finally completed a deep pass on 4th down, getting the first down and setting them up to kick the game-tying field goal.

Going into overtime, Durango lost the toss and had the first offensive drive. After four quarters of back-and-fourth drama, the game came down to the first play of overtime, as Sierra Vista forced a fumble on the run play and recovered. The Mountain Lions clinched the victory with a 10-yard touchdown run from sophomore Cameron Russ on their first offensive play of overtime, beating Durango 35-29.

Following their first-round victory, the Mountain Lions now face 9-0 Silverado. With hopes of dethroning the reigning 4A Nevada State Champs, Sierra Vista will face the Skyhawks next week in the Quarterfinals of the 2022 playoffs.

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The Prep Rally Top-10 – Playoffs – Round 1 Scores:

#1 Bishop Gorman, 72 – #10 Faith Lutheran 0

#2 Liberty 49 – Foothill 21

#3 Silverado – BYE

#4 Desert Pines 48 – Palo Verde 0

#5 Arbor view 59 – Green Valley 0

#6 Shadow Ridge -BYE

#7 Las Vegas – BYE

#8 Coronado 51 – Sunrise Mountain 0

#9 Basic 55 – Del Sol 6

The FSM Prep Rally Top 10 Rankings:

1. Bishop Gorman Gaels (W) 
2. Liberty Patriots (W)
3. Silverado Skyhawks (BYE)
4. Desert Pines Jaguars (W)
5. Arbor View Aggies (W)
6. Shadow Ridge Mustangs (BYE)
7. Las Vegas Wildcats (BYE)
8. Coronado Cougars (W)
9. Basic Wolves  (BYE)
10. Faith Lutheran Crusaders (L)

Franchise Sports Media has your 702 High School Football season covered. Please make sure you tune into The FSM Prep Rally all season for your Las Vegas High School Football coverage and interact with us on all our social media platforms and in the comments section. 

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– Griffin Kemp – Franchise Sports Media

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