Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun
Friday, Nov. 14, 2014 | 10:40 p.m.
Prep Sports Now
Upsets happen
Las Vegas Sun sports reporters Ray Brewer and Case Keefer look over a surprising remaining playoff bracket before weighing in with their picks.
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The Basic High football team started nine juniors on defense this year.
With games against four-time Sunrise champion Liberty, Sunset power Arbor View and high-scoring Green Valley in the initial six games the season, learning on the job often involved some growing pains.
“But we were real close,” Wolves coach Jeff Cahill said. “Watching the film, yeah the scores were lopsided, but we were right there. We were making some rookie mistakes. If we could clean some things up, I knew we’d be able to hang with those teams.”
Not only is Basic hanging with those teams, they are beating them.
The Wolves won their second playoff game today, beating host Las Vegas 42-32 in the Sunrise Regional semifinals to advance to next week’s championship game. There are just four teams left in Southern Nevada’s Division I, including fourth-seeded Basic.
“The kids are excited, man,” Cahill said. “The kids had it in their minds that they were going to win this game.”
Basic has scored 70 points in two playoff games, relying on an improved rushing attack to give the offense balance. Sean White had a rushing touchdown against Las Vegas, Darius Isaia led the Wolves in rushing yards and fullback John Funaki provided a nice change of pace.
“A different guy every week is stepping up. It’s a total team effort,” Cahill said.
Junior quarterback Aeneas McAllister has been steady all season, passing for three touchdowns and rushing for another. Josh Villaros had two touchdown receptions and Brian Evans had the other.
Basic scored 14 unanswered points to open the game and never trailed. Dallon Ellett added a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21
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