Del Sol’s big plays burn Basic

Del Sol running back Bryan Grenier generally takes his time, picking his holes as he runs behind the Dragons' massive offensive line for gains of 4, 5 or 6 yards.

But that doesn't mean the senior isn't explosive. Just ask Basic.

Grenier had a pair of big plays in the second quarter to help the fourth-ranked Dragons take control on the way to a 53-28 home win over the Wolves on Friday night.

Grenier caught a screen pass from Matt Burge behind a wall of blockers and took the ball 67 yards for a touchdown with 1:16 elapsed in the second quarter to put Del Sol (6-0, 4-0 Southeast Division) up 12-0.

"We had to try to soften them up a little bit," Del Sol coach Preston Goroff said. "Guys are coming at us with a lot of guys in the box, so we have to be more creative and get our offense going. And screening is a good way to stop aggressive defenses."

Neither team did much in the middle of the quarter, but Grenier's 65-yard touchdown run with 2:39 to go in the half opened a late second-quarter scoring barrage for the Dragons, who added two more TDs to take a 34-7 halftime lead.

"It just seemed like we had a short field most of the night," Goroff said. "And I don't know, we just made plays."

After Grenier's long run, Del Sol's Joe Maglaras recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, giving the Dragons the ball at the Basic 12.

Two plays later, Pat Mendes, who normally opens holes for Grenier as the team's right guard, took advantage of a shot to carry the ball, rumbling 12 yards for a score. The run included a stiff arm that flattened a Basic defender at the 5.

After Wolves backup quarterback Robby Faiman hit Greg Henderson with a 46-yard touchdown pass, Del Sol's David Montanez fielded the ensuing squib kick, found a hole and scooted 78 yards for a TD to make it 34-7 with 31 seconds left in the half.

"Our focus this week was to get out early and not wait till the second half to get started," Goroff said. "We opened up a pretty sizable lead, and then we were able to get some of our second-teamers in."

That lead included two quick third-quarter scores, one on a 1-yard plunge by Burge and one on a 9-yard run by Grenier that made it 46-14 with 2:42 to go in the third quarter.

That score seemed to signal the end of the night for Del Sol's starters, but two quick TDs by Basic (5-2, 1-2) in the fourth quarter -- a 1-yard run by Faiman and a 2-yard run by Anthony Ireland -- made it 46-28 and prompted Del Sol's starters to return to the field.

They quickly moved it down the field, and reserve running back Jordan Molina scored on a 12-yard run with 1:43 to play to close the scoring.

Grenier finished with 179 yards on 22 carries. It was his fourth consecutive 100-yard game and fifth of the season.

Contact Prep Sports Editor Damon Seiters at dseiters@reviewjournal.com or (702) 380-4587.