Wolves follow script, rally to beat Foothill

Basic coach Jeff Cahill learned this year to never count his team out of a game.

The seventh-ranked Wolves, who have made comeback victories their specialty, rallied again Friday to close the regular season by beating visiting Foothill, 21-13.

"This has kind of been our season," said Cahill, whose second-seeded squad will host Desert Pines in a Sunrise Region quarterfinal next Friday. "We've been behind a few times, but this team never quits."

Quarterback Tyler Dobbins led Basic's surge with two second-half touchdowns, including the decisive 23-yard run in the final minutes. But he admitted he was less certain of victory.

"I was scared. I'm not going to lie," said Dobbins, who completed 15 of 24 passes for 153 yards. "We just didn't really show up in the first half, but it was a great comeback victory."

The Wolves might have taken an early lead if not for two lost fumbles deep in Foothill territory. But the Falcons' Connor Afoa was instead the first scorer, plunging 2 yards with outstretched arms for a 6-0 lead with 2:51 left in the half.

Dobbins got Basic even 6-6 in the final seconds of the third quarter, scoring on a 4-yard keeper to cap a 12-play, 80-yard drive.

Foothill took advantage of good field position to regain the lead three minutes later when Parker Riggin hit Tyrel Garner with a 7-yard pass.

Dobbins connected with Travis Tatiano four times for 46 yards over the next seven plays, and Basic tied it at 13 when Edward Villaros vaulted over the defensive line and sprinted for a 15-yard TD with 4:40 remaining.

The Falcons failed to move the ball on the ensuing possession, and Basic needed only three plays to score the winner when Dobbins wove through traffic for his 23-yard TD.

Villaros ran for 71 yards on 12 carries to help the Wolves (9-1, 5-1 Southeast), and Jon Polin caught five passes for 55 yards.

Foothill (5-5, 3-3) was held to just 135 yards, but Riggin completed 13 of 20 passes for 119.

The Falcons advance to the playoffs, where they will open at Las Vegas on Friday.

• Del Sol 46, Coronado 26 -- At Del Sol, sophomore Chris Marshall scored twice and rushed for 157 of his 176 yards in the second half, helping the Dragons (9-1, 5-1 Southeast) pull away to beat the Cougars (3-6, 0-6) and win the Southeast League's No. 1 playoff seed.

Del Sol's Dezerick Reed rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.

Coronado held a 20-19 lead at halftime thanks to Ryan Newton, who completed 10 of 23 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns in the half. He finished with 340 yards on 22-for-42 accuracy.

Del Sol hosts Valley next Friday in a Sunrise quarterfinal.

-- Sean Walker

• Desert Pines 41, Eldorado 27 -- At Desert Pines, the Jaguars (6-4, 4-2 Northeast League) compiled 447 rushing yards to earn a senior night victory over the Sundevils (1-9, 1-5).

Desert Pines led 27-6 at halftime, getting rushing touchdowns by sophomore Derrick Shaw (5 yards) in the first quarter and Eric Tuiloma (23), Chancellor Davis (15) and Leon Hayes (1) in the second.

Shaw finished with 157 yards on eight carries, Hayes had 103 on eight attempts and Davis supplied 82 on six rushes.

Desert Pines, the Northwest's No. 3 seed, opens the playoffs at Basic next Friday.

For Eldorado, JaQuorrey Williams passed for 194 yards and three touchdowns on 19 completions. His touchdown plays covered 18 yards to Daytron Green, 34 to Brett Van Orden and 16 to Joey Ortega, who made 12 catches for 118 yards.

-- Brennan Karle

• Canyon Springs 67, Chaparral 18 -- At Canyon Springs, Malik Brown and Deavin Rimmey each scored twice as the Pioneers (6-3, 5-1 Northeast) beat the Cowboys (0-10, 0-6) in a warmup for next Friday's Sunrise playoff opener against visiting Liberty.

Brown rushed for 134 yards on eight carries, while Rimmey supplied 121 yards to help Canyon Springs gain 325 yards on the ground.

Chaparral defensive back Andre Wright scored twice, on a 35-yard interception return and 85-yard kickoff return.

-- Brian Danise

• Green Valley 23, Silverado 17 -- At Silverado, Treveece Jackson rushed for 128 yards and a touchdown as the Gators (4-6, 3-4 Southeast) took advantage of six turnovers to extinguish Silverado's playoff hopes.

Silverado (6-4, 2-4), which needed a victory along with a Foothill loss to clinch a playoff berth, had a shot to win with one second left and the ball at Green Valley 39. Jordan Corbett intercepted a Skyhawks pass at the goal line to end the game.

Jackson's 44-yard touchdown on the second play of the fourth quarter gave Green Valley its first lead, 17-10, and the Gators never trailed again.

-- Tim Guesman

• Liberty 24, Valley 12 -- At Liberty, the Patriots (7-3) rushed for 232 yards to defeat the Vikings (3-7), but both teams are playoff bound next Friday.

Liberty visits Canyon Springs for its Sunrise opener, while Valley travels to Del Sol as the Northeast's No. 4 seed.

Ty Byrd rushed for 79 yards on nine carries, including a 22-yard TD in the third quarter. Quarterback Tyler Knepp ran for TDs of 3 and 2 yards for Liberty's first two scores.

-- Sage Sammons