Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

high school football:

Antraye Johnson leads Basic to 20-10 win over Silverado

Prep Sports Now

Gorman's national contest precedes Saturday slate

Las Vegas Sun sports reporters Case Keefer and Ray Brewer go across the valley and break down the upcoming week of high school. They give their picks on every game and spend extra time debating Del Sol vs. Liberty and Servite (Calif.) vs. Bishop Gorman.

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Basic High School sophomore Antraye Johnson scored two second-half touchdowns to help the Wolves improve to 2-1 in league play with a 20-10 victory over Silverado on Saturday.

On a third-and-10 play, Johnson hauled in a 39-yard touchdown reception from senior quarterback Eddie Vega with 6:17 remaining in the third quarter to give the Wolves a 13-2 lead.

“I thought the safety was going to cover me, but instead he went with the receiver,” Johnson said. “I just cut up the middle. Eddie threw a good pass and I caught it.”

On the first play of the ensuing Skyhawks possession, Silverado senior running back Deandre Gause burst free through an open hole for an 80-yard touchdown run.

Following his touchdown run, Gause reached the end zone again on a successful two-point conversion to trim the Silverado deficit to 13-10.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Johnson fielded a Silverado line-drive punt and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown, which gave the Wolves a 20-10 advantage.

“Antraye made some great plays,” Basic coach Jeff Cahill said. “That punt return was unbelievable. That was really the thing that turned the game.”

Johnson gained 48 yards on the ground and had 39 yards receiving to go along with the game-clinching punt return with 5:35 remaining in regulation.

Silverado senior running back Izaiah Thurmon fumbled on the ensuing kick return to defuse any hope of a Skyhawks comeback.

Vega picked up 9 yards on a quarterback keeper on third-and-five to extend the drive and eat up clock on the first set of downs following the turnover.

A few plays later, Vega connected with junior wide receiver DeVonte Boyd for a 23-yard completion on fourth-and-nine with less than two minutes remaining to seal the victory for the Wolves.

“It’s a big win for us,” Vega said. “It puts us second in the division and another game toward playoffs.”

Vega was efficient throwing the football as he completed 13 of 24 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions.

Boyd was Vega’s main receiving threat. He caught nine passes for a game-high 98 yards receiving.

Silverado had two running backs eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark. Thurmon rushed for 135 yards on 21 carries, while Gause had 103 yards on 10 rushes.

Basic will host Liberty in a pivotal Southeast regional matchup on Thursday. Liberty improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in league play with a 34-0 victory over Del Sol on Saturday.

“Tonight’s game was very important for us,” Cahill said. “We’re 2-1 now in league play. It’s big for us. Now it sets us up with a showdown with Liberty next week. It’s going to be tough, but we’re going to be ready.”

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