Game of the Year: Fernley vs. Fallon for the 3A state football title

When Fallon belonged to the Northern AA decades ago, the Greenwave’s major opponents included Yerington, Manogue and Elko.

More than 30 years later, Fernley has become one of the Greenwave’s major rivals as the two teams battle each other not only in football but also in other sports, specifically softball.

Now, it’s round two between the rivals. Fernley plays Fallon in the 3A state championship football game Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Carson High School. Fallon is the host and defending 3A state champions.

THE RIVALRY

Over the years, the Fallon-Fernley rivalry has become a spirited game with Fallon winning the past two years and Fernley eking out a 32-30 win in the second game of 2017 at the Edward Arciniega Athletic Complex. The Vaqueros claimed a 32-30 fourth-quarter win in Fallon by rallying with 33.7 seconds left on the clock.

Fernley erased a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Fallon for the first time since the Greenwave joined the 3A in 2010.

When the two teams played each other in this year’s regular season, Fallon held off a late-game rally for a 42-35 home win. Fallon quarterback Elijah Jackson threw three touchdown passes to receiver Brock Richardson, but a 49-yard pass to Tommy McCormick with less than 2 minutes remaining in the game and three long runs from Richardson in the red zone gave the Wave its second win of the season.

Fernley’s quarterback ran for 177 yards and two touchdowns, and Brandon Reyes added 50 yards rushing and two touchdowns. The Fallon defense limited Steele to 37 yards passing.

Fallon is 10-1, 8-0 in league and earned the No. 1 seed going into the playoffs. Fernley is 10-2 overall and 6-2 in the league.

In the first round of the playoffs, Fallon defeated Spring Creek, 34-10, then Virgin Valley, 47-14. Fallon coach Brooke Hill said he was a little concerned with the opponents outplaying the Greenwave for most of the second half.

Fernley outscored Truckee 14-7 in the second half to win its first playoff game, 35-28. In Las Vegas last weekend, Fernley built a four-touchdown lead before Cheyenne made the game interesting, falling 35-30.

This will be the first time the teams have played each other for a state football championship, but the girls softball teams have been familiar foes at the 3A state tournaments.

No word regarding a friendly wager or a prize between the mayors of the two communities.

COMPARISONS

Fallon has gained 2,278 yards with its passing game, and the running game, which relies on Richardson and Jackson, gained 2,360 yards.

Richardson led Fallon in rushing with 648 yards and had 844 yards in receiving. He is also dangerous on kickoff returns. Tommy McCormick caught 52 passes for 798 yards and 14 touchdowns. Jackson completed 114 of 171 passes for 2,019 yards and 29 touchdowns He didn’t throw for an interception. He rushed for 483 yards.

Fernley, on the other hand, has a lethal one-two punch from Steele, who ran for 1,126 yards, and Reyes, who’s only a junior. He has rushed for 1,255 yards. As a team, Fernley led the Northern 3A with 4,046 yards rushing.

Steele completed 31 of 69 passes for 664 yards.

On defense, Fallon shut out three opponents and since Fernley scored 35 points on Fallon in early September, the most points the Wave allowed on defense was 21.

Fallon’s defense was the stingiest in the Northern 3A and is led by Northern 3A Defensive Player of the Year Dominyke Edwards. Richardson, McCormick, Colby Malkovich and Avery Strasdin can give any teams fits in the secondary. McCormick and Strasdin each intercepted a pass last weekend and ran it back to the end zone. Strasdin ran back his interception for 66 yards.

Fernley’s defense recorded two shutouts this season including a 30-0 win against Elko and allowed seven points in one game (North Valleys) and six in another (Spring Creek).

FOLLOWING THE WAVE

A sendoff for the Greenwave begins at 12:30 p.m. from the high school. Buses will follow a first-responders escort out of town from the school to Taylor Street and north to Williams Avenue. The escort then heads west.

Tune in for all the action. Longtime play-by-player announcer Larry Barker and analyst Randy Beeghly begin their afternoon with the pre-game show at 4 p.m. and kickoff at 4:30 p.m. on K2 99.5 FM and Network 1 Sports (www.network1sports.com/station/kktu). A video stream of the game is also available via the NFHS Network with Dan Slater of the Local Sports Program. Here’s a link to the video stream. A subscription is required.

https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/…/churchill-county-high-school-

The Lahontan Valley News will post updates on its Facebook page after each score and quarter. Veteran sportswriter and LVN editor emeritus Steve Ranson, who has covered the last two championship games in 2015 and 2018, will recap the Greenwave’s game in the pages of the LVN, online at https://www.nevadaappeal.com/sports/ and on Facebook. Photographer Thomas Ranson will chronicle the game from the sidelines.

THE TEAMS

Fallon: Green and white

#NamePos.Gr.HtWt

1Brock RichardsonWR, DBSr.5-8165

2Ethan AndrewsWR, DBSr.6-0165

3Tommy McCormickWR, DBSr.6-1185

4Julian EvansLB, RBJr.5-7180

5Matt DavisWR, DBJr.5-11150

6Levi AndrewsRB, DBJr.6-0165

7Keaton WilliamsQBSo.6-1170

8Elijah JacksonQB, FSSr.6-0180

9Colby MalkovichDB, WRJr.5-11170

10Avery StrasdinWR, QBJr.6-2160

11Devin SouzaDB, WRSr.5-8135

12Wyatt HatchLB, RBJr.5-8150

13Dominyke EdwardsLB, RBSr.6-1210

15Kenji ArmbrusterWR, DBJr.6-0160

18Zeke WashingtonTE, DESr.6-2185

20Hunter CooperWR, DBJr.5-10140

21Malcolm FeestWR, DBJr.6-1150

22Josiah RosarioDB, WRJr.5-7135

25Keith SmithDB, WRJr.5-9150

32Kodus WeheLB, WRJr.5-11170

34Shaw LeeLB, TEJr.6-2210

40Cade BartonLB, RBJr.6-0180

44Tristan HillWR, CBFr.5-6140

48Steven MoonWR, DBFr.5-11150

50Morgan LawryOL, DLSr.6-4190

51Francisco TapiaCBSo.5-9160

52Johnathon BlakeyOL, DLSr.6-0189

55Dylin ValerioOL, DLJr.6-2270

56Thomas SteeleOL, DESr.6-4210

58Sione OtuafiOL, DLSr.6-3290

60Cody SheltonILBSo.5-8165

61Xavier CaptonOLBSo.6-0165

64Brody JacksRBFr.5-11150

65Zane JohnstonOL, DLSr.5-11240

66Ben BakeOL, DLSr.6-1320

70James HarmonyOL, DLSr.6-0230

71Nofoefia FalaniDL, OLSr.5-10230

72David PalaniveluDL, OLJr.6-1215

73Damian TowneOL, DLSo.6-3260

76Jacob ForsheeOL, DLJr.5-8170

78Rigoberto RomeroOL, DLJr.6-1255

80Matt SorensonWR, DBJr.6-1160

81Sam RobertsonWR, KJr.6-1170

85Reuben SanchezWR, DBJr.5-9145

88Tyler AustinWR, DBSo.6-2160

90Reece KincaidWR, OLBSo.5-10150

99Jace NelsonTE, DESo.6-3210

Coach Brooke Hill

Fernley: Black and orange

#NamePos.Gr.HtWt

1Lonnie HaltermanRB, FSSr.5-8165

2Kyle JonesWR, FSJr.5-11155

4John OwensQB, DEJr.5-9180

6Austin RobertsWR, FSJr.5-8120

8Anthony Thompson WR, CBJr.6-0175

9Khyrii PrevostRB, OLBSr.5-10164

10Gage GothanRB, MLBSo.5-10160

11Jacob DwyerWR, CBSr.6-1165

15Julian McintyreQB, FSSo.5-10150

16Miles SteeleQB, CBSr.5-10165

18Carson KingstonWR, CBSo.6-2160

20Jesse Sapien, JrSB, OLBJr.5-7140

25Bailey TorresRB, OLBSr.5-9160

30Emiliano AlonzoRB, MLBSo.5-10170

33Tucker HallQB, MLBJr.5-11180

34Jr ReyesRB, OLBSo.5-8175

35Brandon ReyesFB, OLBJr.5-7175

38Jack KnodellK, WR, DB Sr.5-11170

42Ryan EdwardsWR, CBSr.6-2150

47David SisnerosRB, DEJr.5-10195

50Eric JuliotT, DEJr.6-0190

51Dominic GianottiT, DTSr.5-11220

52Ethan BacockC, DESr.6-3195

54Logan KibbeRB, MLBSr.5-11205

55Setriano PiroddiG, DTSr.6-0245

57Ryan BuschG, DTSr.6-0255

58Travis KollarT, DTSo.5-11175

60Tyler BackDT, TSo.6-3220

64Kale KrellerC, DTSo.5-11200

65Alec CarrG, DTSr.5-10265

67Dominic ReyesG, DTSo.5-11290

70Jordan FranklinT, DTSr.6-2280

75Roman PorterfieldG, DTSr.6-0315

76Cyle CarterT, DTJr.6-0260

78Frank MorserG, NGSr.5-11265

85Josh RoseSB, DBSr.5-8150

Coach Chris Ward