Fallon’s Calin Anderson (13) picks up big yardage after hauling in a pass during the Greenwave's win at Spring Creek.
Anthony Mori | Elko Daily Free Press
The Greenwave football team snapped a two-game losing streak Friday at Spring Creek, and the Northern 3A win has given Fallon a shot at the postseason.
Two touchdowns by Carson Melendy and a solid defensive effort propelled Fallon to a 21-14 win over the Spartans to improve to 4-4 overall, 3-2 in league. Fallon has two games remaining in the regular season – Senior Night on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Edward Arciniega Athletic Complex and at Lowry on Oct. 25.
Fallon and Spring Creek hold the same league records, but the Wave holds the tie-breaker. Spartans have two games at home against Fernley and Elko.
The Greenwave defense provided the first scoring opportunity.
Spring Creek took the opening kickoff to its 37-yard line but on third and four from the Spartans’46-yard line, the Greenwave’s Wyatt Peek recovered a fumble that tailback Landon Boyle coughed up after a 10-yard run.
Fallon’s drive covered 54 yards in 10 plays. Running back Carson Melendy pounded the Spartans’ defense on the ground while quarterback Matthew Bird zeroed in on Peek for a 13-yard sideline pass to keep the drive going.
On second down from the 14-yard line, Peek went in motion while Melendy took Bird’s handoff and found running room over left tackle.
Bird, who successfully kicked all three points after touchdown, gave Fallon a 7-0 lead with 4:20 left in the quarter.
Fallon continued to grind out the running game but a 10-play drive ended on a punt.
The Wave didn’t score until late in the second quarter on its final drive of the half.
Bird mixed up the offense against the Spartans and had a prayer answered on a third and 16 on Fallon’s side of the field.
Bird threw a pass that was tipped by a swarm of players on the Spartans’ defense, but offensive lineman Wyatt Sorensen muscled for the ball and came down with it at midfield. The momentum enabled Fallon to score its second touchdown on a short, three-play drive. Bird connected with receiver Calin Anderson for a 38-yard pass, and Melendy carried twice, scoring on the last one. Bird’s kick gave Fallon a 14-0 lead with 1:08 left in the half.
Bird completed 7 of 14 passes for 140 yards. Anderson caught three of those passes for 68 yards. Peek had a reception for 12 yards.
Bird also ran for 45 yards.
Spring Creek cut Fallon’s lead to 14-6 midway in the third quarter.
After holding Fallon to six plays, the Spartans took over on the Greenwave 41. Spring Creek quarterback Aaron Santos had a key 13-yard pass. Boyle took the ball on the next three downs, scoring from 3 yards to cut the lead to 14-6. The two-point conversion came up short courtesy of Fallon’s linebackers Garrett Payne and Manuel Karaway.
The Spartans tried an online kick but Fallon recovered the ball and struck quickly.
Sophomore running back Rylan Clark gained 6 yards on two carries to move the ball to the Fallon 48. Bird then connected with Anderson to move the ball deep in Spartans’ territory.
On a second and goal from the 3, Bird kept the ball on a quarterback keeper, and with his kick, Fallon led 21-7 with 2:06 left in the quarter.
The eight-play drive covered 54 yards.
Spring Creek’s second touchdown came late in the game when Santos tossed a 10-yard pass to Snowden Bear Williams. Santos then engineered the 2-point conversion.