Canyon Springs routs Rancho, shifts focus to playoff rematch with Basic

After Thursday’s game, Canyon Springs can finally start preparing on what’s been on the back of its mind for weeks.

The score was 55-0, an easy home win against Rancho’s football team, but right after the game, the Pioneers began to focus on the most anticipated matchup of the Class 4A playoffs: a rematch against the Basic.

Canyon Springs – the No. 1 seed from the Northeast League – played Basic on Sept. 15. But an on-field victory for the Pioneers was marred by a postgame brawl where Clark County School District Police used pepper spray to break up the fight. The brawl ended up costing the Pioneers the win that night as both teams were forced to forfeit the Sept. 15 game and their next game.

The Wolves are the No. 4 seed from the Southeast League, and will travel to Canyon Springs next week.

“It’s important that we play composed, and that we have the right mindset going in,” Canyon Spring head coach Gus McNair said. “We’re not taking anything in from the first game or anything of that nature. I know people are going to make it bigger than what it is, but we just want to play football.

“That’s going to be our task this week, just reminding them its just football.”

Senior DiaMante Burton, who led all rushers with 92 yards on two carries and a touchdown Thursday, said what happened on Sept. 15 made his team stronger mentally as they dealt with the adversity of having to forfeit two games.

He said his and his teammates focus will be on winning the football game.

“We came back stronger, way stronger,” Burton said. “We’ve been wanting (to play) them since what happened because that was uncalled for. It shouldn’t happen. For us, we shouldn’t have to talk. We’re just going to let (our play on the field) talk, that’s all.”

The Pioneers (5-4, 4-0 Northeast League) certainly made a statement with their play against the Rams.

The Rams fumbled the opening kickoff and the ball bounced into the end zone before Anasam Fields was able to secure it for the first score of the game.

The Pioneers dominated every phase of the game, racking up 293 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Senior quarterback Kayjon Edwards threw for 60 yards and two touchdowns. Burton also caught two passes for 16 yards and a touchdown.

On defense, the Pioneers limited the Rams (0-9, 0-4) to 47 yards of total offense. The Rams didn’t get a first down until there was 1:49 remaining in the third quarter.

“We just wanted to establish our dominance early on and make sure we play at a certain level versus pulling ourselves back,” McNair said.