WINNEMUCCA — Reno High scored three second-half touchdowns Friday night to rally for a season-opening 28-21 victory against Douglas in a game that came down to the final play.
Reno’s Blake Jamieson caught a 26-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Young with 3:57 left to play and Jeremy Smith intercepted a pass at the goalline as time expired to preserve the win at Lowry High School’s Jerry Tobin Field.
The two teams were forced to travel east to escape air quality issues that have plagued western Nevada for more than a week because of smoke from the Rim fire.
Douglas had a chance to at least tie the score at the end. The Tigers drove from their own 27 in 13 plays, aided by a pass interference call in the end zone on a fourth-down pass with 6 seconds showing on the clock.
They were unable to capitalize on the opportunity, however, when quarterback Wes Hundley’s pass was intercepted.
Hundley completed five straight passes, including a diving catch by Garet Rice for an 18-yard gain and first-down at Reno’s 8 yard line. The senior quarterback also had a 16-yard run to convert another first down.
The Tigers defense came up big shortly before halftime when they stopped Young on a fourth-and-1 sneak at the 21 with a charge led by Cale Kynett, Wyatt Eichhorst and Andrew Jensen.
Douglas took an early 7-0 lead and was on top 14-7 at halftime.
The Tigers received the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards on 10 plays, all on the ground, capped by Nick Abreu’s 13-yard sweep around left end for a touchdown.
Mason Rhoads weaved his way for a 24-yard gain on the third play. One of the key plays during the drive — in which Douglas committed no penalties — Hundley converted a fourth-and-1 play as he pushed two yards on a sneak. On the next play, Rhoads busted a 12-yard run on a sweep for another first down to the 22.
Reno answered with a touchdown on its first possession, as the Huskies drove 74 yards on eight plays. QB Young scrambled 28 yards for the game-tying touchdown, breaking three tackles on his way to the end zone.
Douglas regained the lead three plays later when Taylor Souza stepped in front of a third down pass by Young and returned the interception for a touchdown to make it 14-7 with 1:46 left in the first quarter.
