It was an opening win Greenwave fans had not seen for five years. Friday's game was also a match-up neither the Fallon or Fernley crowd has seen since 1988 when both teams belonged to the old Northern AA.
Fallon's varsity football team escaped first quarter jitters to cruise past the Vaqueros, 40-8, at the Ed Arciniega Athletic Complex. Fallon's non league win over Fernley was also the first season opener victory for the 'Wave since 1999.
Ferrnley evens its record to 1-1 in non-league play.
"We were very anxious for the game and it showed early," said Fallon coach Ray Holladay in assessing the first quarter jitters.
After losing the first drive of the game ended with a fumble, Fernley came back in its second drive with a 14-yard completion from Dan Henderson to Steve Gell on a fourth down and long. On another fourth down, Travis McCurry swept the right side and scored from one-yard out. Fernley made the 2-point ocnversion for an 8-0 lead.
Fallon wasted no time responding as Rick Cornu wove up the middle of the field for an 80-yard kickoff return.
"We talked about it everyday after practice that we were going to return the opening kickoff for a touchdown," Holladay predicted.
Down 8-6, Nate Manning found a wide open Cornu in the corner of the end zone for a 27-yard completion. Fallon led 14-8 going into the second quarter before Josh Mauga blocked a punt and two plays later, he ran in for the four-yard score with less than eight minutes left in the quarter.
Four minutes later, Manning scored on a 1-yard keeper.
Despite his team trailing at intermission, Fernley coach Dave Hart said he was proud his players didn't hang down their heads.
"We're young," he said after the game. "We started six sophomores on defense."
Leading by 19 points into the third quarter, Fallon continued to pound the Fernley defensive line with a couple of running plays before Mauga broke a couple of tackles and quickly ran down the sideline for a 70-yard touchdown.
A tip followed on an interception from Lyle Gardner gave the 'Wave its final touchdown of the evening. Mauga, who rushed for 85 yards, scored his third touchdown of the night, on a 3-yard plunge in the third quarter.
Hart said the game was a good experience for Fernley. He felt Fallon's line was better than what his staff thought. Overall, Hart said Fernley played hard, and with the game behind them, Hart and his players can focus on league.
"This game was a gauge of how well we will play against Truckee or Spring Creek or Lowry," he pointed out.
