Fallon's soccer and cheer groups pose in entrance of the scoreboard after the Greenwave defeated Moapa Valley at Mackay Stadium.
Photograph by Thomas Ranson.
By Steve Ranson
Monday, November 24, 2025
RENO — Soccer is a sport of inches, toes, a number of yards and destiny.
Maxton Richardson rapidly realized how a sport’s end result will be decided by inches after the Churchill County Excessive Faculty junior made the play of the yr at Saturday’s Class 3A state championship soccer sport at Mackay Stadium.
With Fallon holding a landing lead with 2:02 left within the sport, Richardson intercepted a cross by Moapa Valley’s Kamden Drosos that in the end led to Fallon profitable its first state championship in seven years, 21-14.
Within the last minutes of the sport, the Pirates charged down the sphere however the Greenwave’s protection dug in. Fallon zeroed in on Moapa Valley’s operating again Briggs Hickman on three consecutive performs inside the 2-yard line. On a fourth and purpose from one-and-half yards, Drosos compelled his cross — or what regarded like an underhand toss — right into a beehive of gamers earlier than Richardson stretched his 6-foot-1-inch body to clutch the ball with 1:43 left.
“After they threw that interception, our line went wild. We knew we simply need it,” Fallon quarterback Matthew Hen mentioned. “We simply needed to get one first down, two first downs, after which we may simply take a knee till the sport was over.”
Fallon took over on its 20-yard line, and secured the win with a minute left after operating again Carson Melendy ripped by means of the Pirates’ protection and reached the 49-yard line with seconds ticking away.
Melendy unofficially rushed for 185 yards.
“We need to play quick with our guys, we belief our guys,” mentioned second-year coach Calvin Connors. “They’re highschool children and you realize, they executed the sport plan, after which with Carson, he was actually maintaining them off. Carson runs his butt off. He’s a three-time state wrestling champ.”
Connors mentioned the choice was made to offer Melendy the ball on the finish of the sport and “let him roll with it” as a result of he’s used to it.
Though 48 minutes of soccer got here all the way down to the previous few performs, Melendy mentioned Moapa Valley took an opportunity, and the Greenwave denied them.
“For those who do not stack the field on our O line, you are not going to win the hand, there is not any likelihood,” mentioned Melendy. “And our broad receivers are simply good, so it doesn’t even matter.”
Melendy gave the Pirates protection matches for the complete sport.
“They have been simply principally enjoying chase. Yeah, I do not even suppose they’re attempting to deal with me,” Melendy mentioned.
Even with Fallon enjoying behind within the first half after which tied within the last two quarters, Melendy mentioned he and the staff remained assured. The swagger confirmed within the fourth quarter.
“We have been down a number of video games,” he mentioned. “We now have dealt with adversity, (and) we come again each sport.”
Hen agrees the momentum shifted within the second half.
“We knew the sport was 0-0 once more, and we needed to come out sturdy. We obtained the ball, drove down, and we did get stopped, however after we went forwards and backwards and we lastly scored, you realize, that was the momentum change,” he mentioned. “That was after we got here out on prime, they usually form of fell down somewhat bit, vitality sensible. They have been concentrating on the receivers they usually continued to do this and the second half, and rapidly we sprung Carson free, they usually did not know tips on how to deal with him.”
Hen had a robust sport, unofficially throwing for 151 yards and speeding for 56.
The Pirates took the opening kickoff and marched all the way down to the Fallon 25-yard line on 13 performs earlier than Devon Campbell drilled a area purpose.
Drosos combined up his play calling by passing to 2 of his favourite receivers, tight finish Ryder Katich or Caden Rawson, and handing the ball to Hickman.
The Greenwave protection saved Drosos to underneath 20 yards speeding and 63 yards passing.
Fallon responded on its subsequent sequence, starting with Matthew Hen throwing a 39-yard cross to Richardson. Hen then linked with Wyatt Peek for a 15-yard strike to maneuver the ball to the Pirates’ 26-yard line.
Hen and Melendy every had 8-yard runs, and on a primary and purpose from the ten, Camden Richardson outraced Moapa Valley to the tip zone for Fallon’s first rating with 2:16 left within the quarter. Hen’s additional level kick put Fallon on prime, 7-3, and Fallon by no means trailed once more.
Fallon’s defensive position prevented Moapa Valley from scoring on its subsequent sequence. Stress from the road and good protection from the defensive backs compelled Drosos to throw a fast cross that Fallon’s Wyatt Dixon blocked on the Greenwave 16.
Moapa Valley scored on its subsequent sequence of downs on Campbell’s 26-yard area purpose to slice Fallon’s result in 7-6.
A low kickoff gave Fallon renewed momentum. Peek took the kickoff to the Fallon 31, and Hen took over.
A pitch to Melendy, a quarterback keeper and a 43-yard Hen cross to Maxton Richardson put the Greenwave again in enterprise, but it surely took Fallon 4 performs to punch the ball throughout the purpose line.
On third and purpose from the 1, Hen handed off to Melendy who crossed the purpose line 1:28 remaining. Hen’s kick gave Fallon a 14-6 lead, which regarded protected sufficient heading into halftime.
The Pirates, although, rode Drosos’ arm to the Fallon 6. Drosos handed the ball Hickman who muscled his approach into the tip zone in opposition to two tacklers. A 2-point conversion tied the sport at 14 with 9 seconds left within the half.
Hickman completed the sport with 129 yards speeding.
Whereas the protection held its personal in opposition to Moapa Valley, the offensive line opened holes and guarded the runners and quarterback.
“That is our final sport, so I simply went on the market and gave him my all, and I feel that is what it actually was,” mentioned senior lineman and defensive finish Joseph Romero. “It wasn’t about approach; it wasn’t about something. It was simply the grit we had, and we simply saved on going, simply saved going.”
Romero mentioned an interview on Moapa fired him up. He mentioned the interview reported Moapa was extra bodily than the Greenwave.
“No, they don’t seem to be, as you noticed,” he mentioned.
Erik Townsy is one other senior lineman who performed in his last highschool soccer sport.
“I really feel like our efficiency on the staff stage was simply nice,” he mentioned. “We had a few errors, however we have been capable of blow previous these and get to the state championship.”
Townsy and Romero mentioned they weren’t fearful when the Pirates tied the sport.
“We have been combating all yr by means of adversities. We knew we may come by means of it once more right here,” Townsy mentioned,
Each gamers mentioned others doubted the Greenwave’ success this yr.
“What’s there to doubt now? Nothing,” Townsy mentioned.
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