Pats narrowly escape

Liberty coach Rich Muraco stood on the sideline in disgust as he began developing a plan for overtime.

The Patriots had just allowed a touchdown to Canyon Springs with just over a minute to play, and a simple point-after kick would tie the game and presumably force overtime.

But to Muraco's surprise, the Pioneers elected to try a go-ahead 2-point conversion. Tyler Ward's pass was knocked away in the end zone, allowing Liberty to advance with a 16-15 road victory in the Sunrise Region quarterfinals Friday.

The Patriots (8-3) moved into next Friday's 7 p.m. semifinal at Del Sol.

Ty Byrd rushed 33 times for 178 yards and two touchdowns to lead Liberty, but Muraco said Canyon Springs' decision to go for 2 was the pivotal play.

"That's not a call I would have made," Muraco said. "I was really shocked that they went for that."

Though Byrd's 4-yard touchdown run and 2-point conversion run gave the Patriots an 8-0 lead, capping an opening 70-yard drive, they squandered several opportunities by losing four fumbles.

"I can't believe we turned the ball over four times and still won," Muraco said.

Deavin Rimmey scored on a 14-yard run on Canyon Springs' first possession, but a failed 2-point attempt helped Liberty maintain an 8-6 lead.

The defenses took over, allowing no points until Devin Fleischer kicked a 24-yard field goal late in the third quarter to give Canyon Springs its only lead, 9-8.

But Byrd said he knew his team would battle back. "We knew we had to pick up the intensity and fight," he said. "I had confidence in my team."

That confidence paid off when Byrd broke a 9-yard touchdown run up the middle early in the fourth. Jordan Kapeli's 2-point run gave Liberty a 16-9 lead.

But a bad punt gave Canyon Springs (7-3) the ball at Liberty's 40 with 1:10 to play, and the Pioneers immediately capitalized with a 40-yard TD pass from Ward to Jonathon James.

That's when Canyon Springs coach Hunkie Cooper decided to go for 2.

"We knew we hadn't been moving the ball well," he said. "So we took a chance and tried to win it right there. You've got to put yourself in a position to win."

• Foothill 27, Las Vegas 20 -- At Las Vegas, Miles Killebrew returned an interception 22 yards for a touchdown with 1:03 remaining to give the Falcons an upset victory over the Wildcats.

Foothill (6-5) advanced to next week's semifinal at Basic. Las Vegas, winners of the Sunrise Region title for the past six seasons, finished 8-2.

"No one gave us a chance except our team and our fans," Killebrew said. "It was certainly against all odds. Our team turned in an amazing performance."

After Killebrew's score, Las Vegas had one final chance. The Wildcats drove to the Foothill 4 with 12 seconds remaining. But Hassan Henderson, with his team out of timeouts, ran a draw and was tackled at the 2 on the final play.

Kyle Keplinger ran for a touchdown, caught a pass for another and had a 47-yard punt return to set up a third touchdown for Foothill.

Parker Riggin completed 30 of 48 passes for 272 yards, with Tyrel Garner and Keplinger combining for 225 yards. Henderson was 16 of 30 for 294 yards.

-- Sam Leeper

• Del Sol 32, Valley 13 -- At Del Sol, Dezerick Reed scored three touchdowns in the second quarter to carry the Dragons (10-1) past the Vikings (3-8).

Reed scored on runs of 15 and 10 yards, and caught a 74-yard scoring pass from Troy Miller. He also recovered a fumble in the quarter.

Reed, who touched the ball on 30 of the Dragons' 50 plays, had no problem carrying the load.

"I knew this was a big game and I just tried to run as hard as possible," he said. "In these games it's go hard or go home.

Reed finished with 138 yards rushing and 78 receiving.

Miller finished with three TDs, including a 17-yard pass to Evan Weinstock on Del Sol's first drive, and a 25-yarder to Daniel Doph in the fourth quarter.

Garic Wharton had both of Valley's scores: a 15-yard run in the second quarter, and a 99-yard reception from Wallace Dean in the third.

-- Kevin Klein

• Basic 24, Desert Pines 17 -- At Basic, the Wolves (10-1) kept the Jaguars out of the end zone on seven plays inside the 10-yard line in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.

Desert Pines drove to the Basic 7 with less than six minutes to go. Thanks to a penalty, the Jaguars ran seven plays inside the 7. Seven times, Basic held.

And after the seventh play -- a pass that sailed over the intended receiver and out of the end zone with 4:15 left -- the Wolves had the victory.

"It was just a great job by our defensive line and linebackers of stepping up and making play after play after play," Basic coach Jeff Cahill said. "Our defense never quit."

Basic quarterback Tyler Dobbins, who completed 11 of 23 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown, led the Wolves in the second half. He hit Quinn Richardson for a 15-yard TD to give Basic its first lead, 17-10 with 4:06 left in the third quarter.

On the Wolves' next drive, Dobbins connected for 37 yards to Kelly Armistead on third-and-9, putting Basic on the Jaguars 2. Two plays later Richardson bulldozed his way into the end zone for a 24-10 lead.

Derrick Shaw (146 yards on 20 carries) quickly put Desert Pines back in the game quickly, breaking a 66-yard run and then bursting into the end zone on a 7-yard run on the next play.

-- Tim Guesman