The Pershing County Mustangs ran onto Joe Yanni Field looking ready to tangle with anyone in their league.
So did the visiting Incline Highlanders. Mostly, both sides just wanted to play football. It was Incline’s first game of the season and Pershing County’s second after walloping CASR at home on March 5.
“This is a nail-biter,” Shauna Bake exclaimed over the loudspeaker more than once. “What a great game.”
Each team gave as good as they got. The competition tied up multiple times. It took double overtime and a Pershing field goal to resolve the conflict (24-21) in the Mustang’s favor.
Coach Mike Brooks was easy to spot in his signature shorts and sweatshirt.
Each team’s cheerleaders shouted, jumped and kicked the night away. As the temperature dropped, they donned warmer clothing and Brooks put up his hood.
The home crowd watched from their cars and trucks along the perimeter fence.
“It was a tough battle with Incline,” said Brooks. “It was tight last season, and they have a lot of returners. We’re excited to come out with the win.”
The first quarter ended in a scoreless stalemate, with neither side willing to give up an inch of territory. Jessy Gonzalez, Devin Moura, Mariano Gomez, Jordan Gentry, Logan Oberman, Daniel Reitz, Haydon Burrows, Zeke Jackson and a herd of Mustangs tackled and blocked with gusto for the Mustangs.
Pershing County’s Raul Rincon rushed the first six points of the night, but Highlander Brad Rye’s rushing touchdown kept the race neck-to-neck. The PAT brought the score to 7-6, with the Mustangs down by one point.
Each side also scored in the third, tying the game at 14.
Showing no signs of fatigue, Incline’s Brad Rye added a 60-yard rushing touchdown. The tie lasted through the end of the fourth quarter, driving the contest into overtime.
Pershing County’s Jessy Gonzalez scored a three-yard rushing touchdown in the first overtime. The home crowd yelled and honked their horns in appreciation. Diego Gonzalez kicked right down the middle for the extra point.
However, Incline refused to quit. Brody Thralls (#88) came through on a 15-yard pass from Dylan Cleary. A good kick tied up the score again, pushing the game into double overtime.
Finally, Diego Gonzalez’s field goal ended the game in the Mustang’s favor. With the win, Pershing advances to 2-0, undefeated.
Pre-pandemic, Incline coach Brian Martinez, Coach Brooks and all the players would have shaken hands. Instead, they nodded at one another with mutual respect for a hard-fought game.
“We also can’t really celebrate with the players, which is hard,” said the coach.
The schedule is subject to sudden change, but as of press time, the varsity Mustangs travel to Silver Springs to play the Silver Stage Nighthawks on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the JV boys head to Spring Creek. They recently opened their season in Elko.
PCHS hosts rival Battle Mountain on Fri., March 26. JV starts at 4:30 p.m. Varsity plays at 7 p.m.
The Mustangs go on the road against West Wendover on Friday, April 2.
They close the season on April 9, by hosting the 2019 state champs, the Yerington Lions.
So far, Yerington also enjoys undefeated status. They slammed Coral Academy 40-0 at their season-opener on Mar. 12.
By the time they come to Lovelock, they’ll have played Battle Mountain (March 20), Incline (March 26) and Silver Stage (April 2).
Community support could give the Mustangs the edge in what promises to be another nail-biter.
