Victor shows off big-play ability in Wildcats’ Bone Game rout

Las Vegas High’s Farrell Victor came into Thursday night’s game averaging 13.8 yards per carry.

He showed why against Rancho’s defense.

Victor rushed for 173 yards and scored three touchdowns to help the Wildcats to a 49-12 home win over the rival Rams in the annual “Bone Game.”

Six of Victor’s 14 carries went for 10 or more yards. He had TD runs of 3 and 12 yards, and also returned a punt 59 yards for a score.

“He’s a special athlete,” Las Vegas coach James Thurman said. “He’s one of the leaders for us. He does some good stuff when the ball’s in his hands, and he’s a good blocker. He’s a physical kid, as well as fast.”

Victor’s first big play came with the fourth-ranked Wildcats leading 14-6 in the second quarter. He broke off a 39-yard run to the Rancho 3 that set up his first TD run, and Jay Mattox’s extra point made it 21-6 with 9:47 to go in the half. He had a 70-yard TD run called back on the next drive, but Las Vegas (8-0, 6-0 Northeast League) still marched on a 70-yard drive, which was capped by a 29-yard TD pass from Hasaan Henderson to Andrew Moreland with 2:01 to go in the half as the Wildcats took a 28-6 lead.

Las Vegas went for an onside kick, and it backfired, setting Rancho up with the ball at the Wildcat 49.

Four plays later Will Gosse-Gardet hit Joel Fluhrer with a 12-yard TD pass that cut the lead to 28-12 at the half.

But it was all Las Vegas in the second half. Victor’s 59-yard punt return came after Rancho’s first possession of the third quarter, giving the Wildcats a 35-12 lead with 10:36 left in the period.

“I’ve been waiting for all the teams to punt to me and no one wants to,” Victor said. “I tell them all the time, if they kick one to me I’m going to take it back.”

Victor’s 5-yard TD run came after a 60-yard scamper, and the Wildcats led 42-12 at the end of the third quarter.

Henderson added a 1-yard TD pass to Vince Castro to close the scoring.

Henderson completed 8 of 10 passes for 109 yards and three touchdowns. He tossed a 34-yard scoring pass to Joshua Mayfield on the first play of the second quarter.

The senior quarterback also rushed for 75 yards, including a 1-yard keeper that opened the scoring.
Cody Hafen had a 3-yard TD run for Rancho (3-5, 3-3).

Victor praised the team’s defensive play against Rancho’s no-huddle offense.

“They stepped up and played fast, conditioned hard,” Victor said. “They’ve got to chase me around in practice all the time, so they get a good workout.”