Fernley football wins wild contest

Fernley's football game at Rite of Passage may have looked more like a track meet, but all that matters to the Vaqueros is that they are now 3-0.

The Vaqueros rolled up 432 yards in total offense in a 57-41 win over ROP on Saturday.

"It was pretty wild," Fernley coach Dave Hart said. "It was crazy."

Matt Lambeth threw for 123 yards and three touchdowns, ran for another score and also returned a kickoff for a touchdown. Danny Maguin added 160 yards on 20 carries for Fernley.

After ROP took a 6-0 lead, Lambeth returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to give Fernley a 7-6 lead. ROP then scored on a 65-yard run, but Lambeth answered with a 3-yard scoring run to give the Vaqueros a 14-13 lead. Adam Schwab caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Lambeth to give Fernley a 21-13 lead after one quarter.

Lonnie Hatcher scored on a 2-yard run and Maguin scored on a 14-yard run to make it 35-13. After ROP scored again, Fernley scored on a safety and Tim Hines caught a 28-yard scoring pass from Lambeth just before halftime to give Fernley a 44-19 lead.

Fernley began the second half with a six-minute drive that ended on a 13-yard scoring pass from Lambeth to Shane Stokes. Hines kicked his seventh extra point in seven tries to make it 51-19.

ROP scored twice to close to within 51-33, but Hatcher scored on a 1-yard run to put the game away. ROP scored near the end of the game for the final margin.

Fernley finished with 309 yards rushing.