Foothill wide receiver Tarrell Mack-Lovely (2) pulls in a pass and takes it to the end zone ahead of Green Valley’s Bayden Kidwell (12) during the second half of a high school football game at Foothill High School in Henderson Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.
Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 | 10:52 p.m.
Foothill High football coach Vernon Brown doesn’t hesitate labeling his quarterback as the best in the state.
So, when the Falcons fell behind by one point in the third quarter Friday night against visiting Green Valley, Brown didn’t hold back in calling Mason Dew’s number.
Dew threw a beautiful long ball downfield, and Ethan Stubbs caught the pass in stride for a 61-yard touchdown reception on the way to a 34-21 Foothill win.
“When we are ready to turn it up and let it fly, we can,” Brown said.
Dew was just getting started.
He connected with Tarrell Mack-Lovely for a pair of scores in the second half in helping the Falcons improve to 7-1 on the season.
“We fought really hard,” Mack-Lovely said. “We went through a battle. We finished the game and played a full four quarters.”
Dew had passed for 2,184 yards and 24 touchdowns entering tonight’s game. And, Brown proudly says, he’s not the Falcons’ only weapon.
Devon Wake, who had a long touchdown to open the scoring, teams with Mack-Lovely, Stubbs and Chase Kennedy to form a deep rotation of receivers.
“Any given week, any of those guys can go off,” Brown said. “We have weapons at the receiver position. That is a strength.”
While Foothill mostly passed the ball against Green Valley, Brown says it also can run the ball. Avant Gates Jr. and Eugene Altobella III lead the team in rushing yards on the season.
Foothill will have its hands full next week against Faith Lutheran, which is also undefeated in league games. But with the way Foothill is passing the ball, Brown likes the Falcons’ chances.
“We really have to lock in and dig in,” Brown said. “We know Faith Lutheran has a good team.”
His players are confident in the result — next week and beyond.
“I feel like we can win it all this year,” Mack-Lovely. “That’s how good we are. We have the No. 1 offense in the state. Quarterback is great. Receivers are great.”
Green Valley had a pair of touchdowns on passes on throws from Jack Thow to Trey Glasper, the first of which gave the Gators a lead in the third quarter.
“You have to give it to Green Valley,” Brown said. “They were pumped up. We had to settle down and match their intensity.”
