Douglas fights, McQueen finishes in a 40-14 victory

RENO — Big plays were the difference Friday night for the McQueen High football team in its 40-14 victory against Douglas.

For the Lancers (2-0), those big plays happened in bunches — two touchdowns within a span of less than three minutes in the first quarter and two more within a span of 40 seconds shortly before halftime during the nonconference contest at Ken Dalton Field.

The last of those scores was the result of a fumble in the end zone from a punt formation, giving the Lancers a 28-14 halftime lead. Two other big special teams plays — a blocked punt and a failed fake punt — set up two McQueen scores. All together, it was too much for Douglas (0-2) to overcome against one of Nevada’s most successful prep football programs (six state titles and 11 regional titles over the past three decades).

McQueen struck for two quick touchdowns to take a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

First, the Lancers recovered a fumble at the 26 and cashed in on a third-and-23 play when Patrick DeLeon scooted 25 yards for a touchdown. Then, after Douglas gambled on a fourth-down pass from punt formation, McQueen drove 31 yards on four plays as Lucas Weber broke a 21-yard touchdown run up the middle on a second-and-14 play.

Douglas answered with a drive of its own at the end of the first period. Wes Hundley completed a 25-yard pass to Bailey Vidaurri and Nick Abreu followed with a 21-yard run, with 15 more yards tacked on by a penalty at the end of the play for first down at the 18. Hundley scrambled 17 yards to convert a fourth-and-15 play, and two plays later the quarterback scored on a 10-yard run with 10:38 left in the second quarter.

Douglas tied the score when Wyatt Eichhorst sacked the quarterback and shook the ball lose, with Zachary Moehle-Boston recovering in the end zone to tie the score 14-14 with 3:34 left before halftime. McQueen answered immediately when Weber shook a tackle at the line of scrimmage and broke to the outside on his way to a 68-yard touchdown. Kyle Adams blocked the PAT attempt to keep the Lancers’ lead at 20-14.

The Lancers got another break before the intermission when Douglas misplayed its punt formation snap and John Weiderhold recovered the loose ball in the end zone for a touchdown and 28-14 lead.

The Douglas defense came up with a stop to start the third quarter. McQueen drove to the 26, but stalled after Kaleb Foster’s QB sack on third down followed by a Garet Rice interception on a fourth-down pass play.

A blocked punt on the ensuing series, however, set the Lancers up with first-and-goal. Weber scored his third touchdown moments later on a 9-yard run.