ELKO — There are currently two types of football programs in the Division 3A North.
A: The Fallon Greenwave and the Truckee Wolverines.
B: Everyone who wants to be Fallon or Truckee.
Fallon rode the big “Green Wave” over Elko on Friday night, dominating the Indians’ homecoming by a final score of 44-0. Fallon improves to 7-0 in the Division 3A North and is poised for an 8-0 start, playing the Railroaders at 7 p.m. Friday, in Sparks.
Fallon coach Brooke Hill said with a win against Sparks, the Wave will clinch the Northern 3A title. Fallon defeated Sparks twice in 2017, once during the regular season and then in the playoffs. The Railroaders are 2-6 overall, 2-5 in league after losing at Truckee on Saturday, 50-7.
“Coach (Brad) Rose has done a good job with the team,” Hill said. “They’re running into the toughest part of their schedule … Fernley, Truckee and now us.”
Elko received the opening kick, beginning its drive at its own 33.
The Indians went nowhere but nearly connected on a deep shot by senior quarterback Carter Alvarado that was in the hands of the intended receiver but dropped on a great diving attempt.
Elko punted and the ball hit an Elko player in the helmet, so Fallon took over at its own 42.
The Greenwave picked up nine yards on a rush by senior Sean McCormick, beginning in the middle and bouncing left.
Elko dodged a major bullet as a sure-fire touchdown was dropped behind the Indians’ secondary.
Junior Tommy McCormick caught a short pass to the right side and used some nifty jump cuts to free himself to the Elko 12, but the play was called back due to a Fallon penalty,
Elko could not take advantage of consecutive Fallon misfortunes, junior quarterback Elijah Jackson rifling a pass across the middle to junior Brock Richardson to the Elko 11.
From the 11, McCormick bulled his 180-pound frame over the Elko defense for a touchdown up the middle.
The extra point was blocked by junior Cooper Jones and senior Carl Hansen, but the Greenwave took a 6-0 lead with 7:44 remaining in the first quarter.
Jackson and Sean McCormick provided a one-two punch along with Sean Richardson. Jackson rushed seven times for 50 yards and also completed 6 of 9 passes for 70 yards. McCormick, though, plowed through the Elko defense all night, gaining 208 yards. Richardson added 46 yards on five carries and rushed for a pair of touchdowns, and he also caught two passes for 46 yards.
“First, on offense, we continue to be consistent and we had good play by our offensive line,” Hill said.
The Indians once again began their next drive from the 33-yard line but went nine-yards backward to the 24, punting to the Fallon 46.
Sean McCormick broke free around the left edge for a 36-yard gain to the Elko 17.
He capped the drive with a one-yard yard touchdown, carrying defenders into the end zone.
Moving to the wildcat formation, he took a direct snap and provided the same result for the conversion.
With 3:28 on the clock, Fallon jumped to a 14-0 advantage.
“Sean had a big game again with three touchdowns,” Hill said of his senior back.
Elko began their third-consecutive drive at the 33, but the Indians did nothing with the football and lined up to kick.
A fake punt and run was sniffed out and denied by the Fallon defense at the Elko 35.
Hill said the defense played its game against Elko. He said Sean McCormick and Richardson were strong in the secondary, and linebackers Ethan Andrews and Brenden Larsen patrolled the turf and worked on containment.
Jackson broke free on an option-read for 21 yards up the middle to the Indians’ 14.
The first quarter came to a close, and the teams swapped sides.
Elko stiffened and forced a 4th-and-4 from the 7, and a holding penalty pushed the Greenwave back to the 20.
Leaving the offense on the field proved a beneficial decision, as Sean McCormick moved to quarterback and connected on a deep dig to brother Tommy McCormick to the Elko 2 for a chain-mover.
Richardson took a carry off tackle-right for six points.
Sean McCormick kept the football on the conversion and punched through for a 22-0 lead with 11:21 remaining in the half.
Fallon tried to catch Elko off-guard with an onside, but the Indians jumped on the football at their own 48.
Elko was dropped for a five-yard loss, junior Colby Tiner nearly gaining the yardage back with a four-yard gain.
Alvarado bought some time as he rolled the opposite way of his dominant arm, fading left and tossing a strike to senior Cooper Jones along the left sideline for a 29-yard gain to the Fallon 28.
The Greenwave’s defensive front and linebackers made massive pushes and stopped the Indians cold.
On 3rd-and 5, the Fallon defense made a sack and placed the Indians in a 4th-and-7 from the 25.
Elko elected for a 42-yard field goal, but the kick missed wide to the left.
The Indians penetrated on consecutive plays and forced a 3rd-and-4, forcing an incomplete pass, but Elko’s band was called for a sideline warning for playing during live action – giving the Greenwave another shot.
Elko stopped Sean McCormick a yard short of the line to gain, but he broke off a 40-yard trot down the left sideline to the Elko 31 on fourth down.
He then took a 24-yard carry to the end zone, but the points came off the board because of a holding penalty.
The Indians showed solid coverage on routes down the field, forcing a turnover on downs.
The highlight of Elko’s possession was a four-yard catch by Tiner, the Indians punting to the Fallon 32.
Richardson returned the kick to the Elko 37.
On 4th-and-14, Tommy McCormick made another big catch for 22 yards to the 18.
Sean McCormick did the rest, cashing in an 18-yard rush to paydirt and adding the conversion himself.
With 1:02 remaining in the half, Fallon took full control.
The game went to the break with the Greenwave on top huge, 30-0.
By halftime, Fallon had racked up 259 yards of offense, the Indians limited to 57 yards – 29 of which came one play.
To open the third quarter, Fallon received the kickoff and went back to work.
Advancing the ball to the Elko 49, Sean McCormick broke a run to left and reversed field with a filthy cutback between a pack of Elko defenders – rushing 43 yards to the Indians’ 6.
A Jackson keeper to the left capped the opening drive of the half – Sean McCormick rushing for the two-pointer.
The mercy rule kicked in with 10:42 remaining in the third, the Greenwave up 38-0.
Elko’s best drive of the ballgame was aided by a late hit from Fallon, Jones following with a 13-yard carry to the Fallon 32.
The drive stalled and came crashing to a close with an interception by… guess who? Sean McCormick.
The Greenwave took over at the Fallon 16, but the Greenwave’s drive also ended with an INT.
Jones intercepted a pass on Elko’s 38, making a 41-yard return down the left sideline – his own teammate actually dropping him short of a pick-six.
Elko went backward with a loss, followed by two incomplete passes, marching farther from points with a delay-of-game penalty.
The possession ended with another disaster, junior Dominyke Edwards picking off a pass and returning the ball to the Elko 43.
Tommy McCormick carried around the right side for 23 yards to the Elko 20.
Richardson took a toss-left the distance to the pylon, but the conversion was unsuccessful with 7:13 remaining in the running-clock game.
Time rolled to triple-zeros – the Greenwave showing why they’re the class of the league and the 3A state, blasting Elko 44-0.
Hill said Jackson had a good all-around game for Fallon.
“Elijah’s passing was great, and he managed the game effectively for us,” Hill said.