Dustin Gordon had a career night for the Moapa Valley football team in its most significant game of the year — the Hammer Game with rival Virgin Valley.
Gordon had nine catches for 187 yards and three receiving touchdowns, and recorded a pair of interceptions on defense in helping Moapa Valley to a 46-28 win.
Gordon’s interception return for a touchdown at the end of the first half gave the Pirates a 24-7 lead.
“He was a man amongst boys,” Moapa Valley coach Brent Lewis said of Gordon.
Gunner Redd, one of Moapa Valley’s top players, went down in the first quarter with an injury. But Austin Heiselbetz had three touchdowns and Gordon was almost impossible to stop.
Virgin Valley scored in the first minute of the game on an interception return for a score. On Moapa Valley’s next possession, it fumbled going in for a touchdown.
“We just keep giving it back to them,” Lewis said.
But the Moapa Valley defense limited Virgin Valley to minus-1 yard in the first half and stayed undefeated on the season. More important, it kept the rivalry trophy.