Valley rallies to defeat Rancho, clinches playoff spot

Valley’s Tyler Searcy and Deandre Gholar led a thrust that precocious schoolhouse shot dreams are made of successful a 12-7 triumph implicit Class 3A Mountain League hostile Rancho connected Thursday night.

Searcy, a sophomore quarterback, moved the Vikings down the field, culminating successful a 1-yard Gholar touchdown tally with astir a infinitesimal left. Gholar was stuffed connected 2 erstwhile plays but came done connected 3rd down. He fielded a precocious snap, past recovered a cleanable lane to the extremity zone.

Rancho made 1 past thrust into Valley territory, but the Vikings defence held dependable erstwhile it mattered astir and helped Valley (3-5, 2-2) clinch a playoff spot and destruct the Rams from postseason contention.

Searcy finished 14-for-32 for 188 yards and 2 interceptions. Gholar was Searcy’s main target, hauling successful a team-high six catches for 73 yards.

Gholar not lone enactment the exclamation constituent connected the triumph but besides got Valley onto the committee archetypal with a pick-six successful the 2nd quarter.

Rancho (2-4, 0-3) appeared to person momentum aboriginal successful the 2nd quarter. After Rams antiaircraft backmost Dige Nichols picked disconnected a walk and returned it to his 20-yard line, Rancho backmost Kole Lindholm connected with Mason Reams for a 32-yard pass.

Rancho’s travel into Valley territory was short-lived, however. The thrust ended erstwhile Gholar snagged a tipped shot and ran 59 yards for the score, putting his squad up 6-0.

About 5 minutes later, Rancho’s Vince Marcione, who came connected successful alleviation of starter Kole Lindholm, scored connected a 1-yard backmost sneak. Martin Bueno’s PAT gave the Rams a 7-6 lead.

Both teams struggled to summation momentum passim the game, which saw 8 turnovers and plentifulness of penalties.

Valley finishes its regular play astatine location adjacent week against Pahrump Valley. Rancho travels to Western.