Trojans lose a thriller to Spring Valley in final minutes

The Trojans came out and played with their hearts and almost pulled it off as they lost to Spring Valley in a thriller, 19-14 to a disappointed Homecoming crowd.

Pahrump knew that the last playoff spot was up for grabs as they played the Grizzlies, but just couldn't get their offense firing in the first half and that was the difference in the game.

At first it seemed like Pahrump would repeat their Cheyenne game, where the Trojans were blown out, as Spring Valley started off the scoring in their first two series and led 13-0 at the end of the first quarter.

In addition to that, Trojans quarterback, TJ Milk threw an interception to start the second quarter. The game at that point looked like it would be a dud, but the Trojans defense came alive in the second quarter and turned things around by forcing the Grizzlies to go 3 and out and then came back again with a late second-quarter interception.

Devlin Dillon made the interception after Spring Valley had a TD pass called back due to a penalty.

Pahrump took over on the Grizzlies' 43-yard line with 2:41 left in the half. The Trojans took the ball into the red zone on a pass from Milk to Parker Hart, which was a good 25-yard reception.

A couple of downs later, with 1:18 to play in the half, Milk connected with Devlin Dillon in the corner of the end zone for a TD to make it 13-7 at the half Spring Valley.

In the third quarter, the two teams exchanged turnovers. The Trojans were intercepted and Spring Valley fumbled. Pahrump Valley's Riley Sutton made the fumble recovery, but neither team would do anything in the third quarter.

At the end of the third, the Trojans got the ball on their own 15 and began a long march to the end zone that would end three minutes into the fourth quarter. On that drive Milk had two good runs that took the ball into Spring Valley territory to the 45-yard line. He then completed a pass to Parker Hart to take the ball to the 15-yard line of Spring Valley. On a third and 13, Milk threw another well-thrown pass for a TD to Devlin Dillon to tie the game 13-13. Joey Sladek made the extra point to take the lead 14-13 with 9:10 left in the game.

Unfortunately, the Grizzlies shook it off and then took control of the game. Their offense marched 73 yards down the field for a touchdown, leaving only 3:13 on the clock and that's when the Trojans' magic ran out and Pahrump could not come back. They turned the ball over on downs.

The Trojans (3-4, 2-3) are not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, but in order for them to make it they would have to beat an undefeated in league Faith Lutheran (6-0 overall, 5-1 Sunset League) team and then beat Sierra Vista (1-6, 1-4) on the road. In turn, Spring Valley (5-2, 3-2) would have to lose to Sierra Vista this week and to Faith Lutheran the following week.

The Trojans play Faith Lutheran at home at 7 p.m.