WINNEMUCCA -- Tommy Menesini had a game for the ages for the Yerington High football team. And he did it in one half.
Menesini rushed for 203 yards and scored four of the Lions' five touchdowns in the first half as Yerington surprised Lowry 31-14 on Friday in Winnemucca. It was the second straight year that Yerington has beaten Lowry.
Now Yerington coach Cody Neville wants his team to build on the win against Lowry -- something it wasn't able to do last year.
"We talked about learned behavior," he said. "Hopefully we can continue on it.
"Last year we got the win against Lowry and we didn't finish it out. That's our goal this year."
Menesini finished with 228 yards on 24 carries. Menesini scored on runs of 80, 3, 10 and 18 yards. Josh Inserra added 96 yards on 11 carries as the Lions (3-2) rolled up 377 yards in the first half and finished the game with 428 total yards.
Neville said Menesini is not being caught on runs this year that he was caught on last season.
"He's just put a ton of effort and a ton of commitment in the off season," Neville said. "My hats off to him for making that kind of commitment and seeing the payback."
The Lions led 25-0 after one quarter and 31-0 at halftime. Lowry (3-2) also committed five of its seven turnovers in the first half.
John Little set up Yerington's first touchdown on the opening kickoff when he returned it to the Lowry 44. Stephen Hernandez ran for 21 yards on the first play from scrimmage and on Yerington's third place, Hernandez scored on an 8-yard run.
Menesini ran for his 80-yard score on Yerington's next possession. Adam Ledbetter then recovered a fumble. Josh Inserra followed by running 52 yards to the Lowry 3 to set up Menesini's 3-yard scoring run as Yerington took an 18-0 lead in the first six minutes.
Lucas Mudloff's recovery set up Menesini's fourth touchdown, a 10-yard run. Menesini's 18-yard scoring run gave Yerington a 31-0 lead.
Neville credited the offensive line of Mudloff, Brian Kerwin, Cody Collins, Everett Willie and Jay Somerville.
The Lions suited up 20 players. "At least it's not the dirty dozen," Neville said. "I've been there before."
Yerington's move into the 2A was approved by the NIAA board last week. The Lions are competing as an independent this season.
Despite the win over Lowry, Neville said his program's situation hasn't changed.
"It doesn't change my opinion at all, not in the slightest," he said. "We're still in the same boat."
Neville noted that his team isn't going through the gauntlet of Manogue, Spring Creek and Truckee this year.
"You're not sure what you're going to have left," said Neville about playing those three teams.
