Basic looks to get physical after defeat

Basic football coach Cliff Frazier knows exactly what went wrong in last week's loss to previously winless Foothill.

"When you're in a big rivalry, collisions are the key," Frazier said.

Frazier said his Wolves got outmuscled against the Falcons, and now Basic (5-1, 1-1 Southeast Division) faces a Del Sol team that prides itself on power.

"Our line is massive," Dragons senior lineman Otto Hansell said. "I love it. Power football -- I think I'd take power football versus any other way."

Basic travels to fourth-ranked Del Sol (5-0, 3-0) at 6 tonight.

"They're riding high right now, and they've got some big old guys up front," Frazier said.

The 6-foot-3-inch, 305-pound Hansell is the biggest of them, but he's not the only big guy up front for Del Sol.

Seniors Pono Huihui (6-1, 275) and Pat Mendes (5-10, 250) and juniors Alex Klorman (6-4, 220) and Logan Nester (6-1, 280) round out the offensive line.

"We can make holes because all we do on offensive (practice) days is sled work," Hansell said. "The biggest thing in a power football team is the sled."

Frazier has tried to offset that sled work with more physical practices this week.

"We had a better week of contact," Frazier said. "We didn't hit (against Foothill), and this week that's all we did to make sure we get that back in us. Because we lost that physical attitude that you need to win tough games like this."

Many think of Basic as a finesse team because of its spread offense, but Frazier said the team's running game is the key. And the Wolves nearly were shut out on the ground against Foothill, managing just 10 rushing yards. The Wolves had averaged 160 rushing yards in their first five games.

Running behind that big offensive line, the Dragons have averaged 253 rushing yards per game, led by Bryan Grenier (670 yards, nine TDs).

Del Sol coach Preston Goroff said he expects the Wolves to bounce back after their tough loss.

"Usually after a team loses, they get their focus back," Goroff said. "I believe Basic will get their focus back and they'll have a good week of practice and they'll be very up for our game."

Frazier said he hopes Goroff is right.

"Our egos were a little bruised, but I feel like the kids have bounced back," Frazier said. "They're well aware that we're probably going to play the most physical team we've played to date, and we've got to be up to that challenge."

For its part, Del Sol will keep doing what it does best: plow straight ahead behind that huge line.

"We'll just play power football, Del Sol football," Hansell said. "That's all we can do."

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