Fallon explodes against Dayton

FALLON — In a battle of undefeated league records, Fallon showed why it is once again a favorite to claim the Division I-A state title.

The Greenwave rolled visiting Dayton, 62-7, on Homecoming to improve to 4-0 in the Northern DI-A and 4-1 overall. The Dust Devils, meanwhile, suffered their first loss and dropped to 3-1 in league and 4-1 overall.

“They are good enough to make their own luck,” Dayton coach Rob Turner said. “We had a couple misfires on defense and soon we were in a big old hole.”

Fallon’s lightning quick offense wasted little time as the Wave ripped off 28 points in the first quarter and 56 unanswered before Dayton scored.

The Wave started their tsunami of touchdowns with a 68-yard TD pass from Joe Pyle to Tyler Bagby on the third play of the game. Fallon scored about 4 minutes later when Cameron Matzen took a pitch, cut to the right and broke four tackles en route to a 58-yard TD run.

Nathan Heck added a 52-yard TD run and Pyle connected with Matzen on a wide receiver screen for an 88-yard TD pass with 52 seconds remaining in the period.

“We played well and executed well,” Fallon coach Brooke Hill said. “The kids came out and played the way they are capable of playing.”

In the second quarter, Pyle found Cameron Beyer for a 9-yard TD pass, Charles Fulks added a 1-yard TD run and Pyle hit Jordan Schultz on a 23-yard pass to give the Wave a commanding 49-0 lead at halftime.

“We exploded tonight and had some big plays,” Hill added. “And our defense played really well. We were prepared for their offense.”

Dayton, meanwhile, was without the league’s leading rusher, Sky Berntson, who was injured last week against Truckee.

The Dust Devils’ running game, though, could not muster any consistency as the speed, skill and scheme of Fallon held Dayton to three first downs in the first half.

Without Bernston, Dayton relied heavily on the trio of Quinn Santana, Julio Meza and John Aguilar. But Fallon’s defensive front was too quick, blowing past blockers and forced four punts.

Dayton also lost a fumble when quarterback Davis Winebarger’s pass to Meza was ruled a lateral and Fallon’s T.J. Mauga recovered.

Winebarger, though, capped Dayton’s lone scoring drive with a 25-yard TD pass to Dallon Mendoza in the fourth quarter.

“Having Skyler out was a big loss for us,” Turner said. “They played a heck of game, so my hats off to them.”

Pyle completed 7-of-12 passes for 257 yards and four TDs, while Fallon ran for 222 yards including a team-high 73 yards and two TDs from Heck.

Dayton, meanwhile, was held to 135 yards rushing as Aguilar had a team-high 40 yards and Santana ran for 36. Winebarger completed 6-of-10 passes for 49 yards and one TD.

Despite the humbling loss, Dayton still sits in solid position in the chase for the playoffs.

Spring Creek (3-1) rallied past Wooster, 31-26. Fernley (3-1) routed Sparks (0-4), 56-0, leaving a four-way tie for third as of press time. Lowry beat South Tahoe 36-14.

“We have Lowry next week and it’s our homecoming, so hopefully we can get up for that,” Turner said.