Basic comes from behind for 22-21 victory over Canyon Springs

Edward Hauth

Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 | 11:31 p.m.

Basic High improved to 3-0 on the season with a 22-21 comeback victory over Canyon Springs Saturday night.

After trailing the first three quarters, Basic took its only lead of the game on a fourth-quarter touchdown and two-point conversion.

On fourth-and-goal from the Canyon Springs 2 yard line early in the fourth quarter, Basic quarterback Vince Carducci rolled right and hit wide receiver Blaze Galardy , who made a juggling catch for the touchdown to cut Canyon Springs’ lead to 21-20.

Basic coach Jeff Cahill initially sent out the kicking unit to go for the tie, but a Canyon Springs encroachment penalty allowed Cahill’s club to go for the win.

Following the encroachment penalty, Cahill sent out his first-team offense for the two-point conversion. Basic opted for a power run by running back Benny Gutierrez , who smashed into defenders as he crossed the goal line for the go-ahead two-point conversion.

“It was not hard at all,” Cahill said of his decision to go for the win. “Last week, our offensive line and Benny did a great job from the 1 yard line all week. We have total confidence in those guys, so when we were at the 1 yard line, we knew we could get it in.”

Basic held Canyon Springs scoreless the remainder of the game and ran out the clock toward the end of the game to remain unbeaten on the season.

Basic trailed 14-7 at halftime as Canyon Springs converted two long touchdown passes in the second quarter to take the halftime lead.

Canyon Springs quarterback Jamaal Martin connected with junior wide receiver Isiah Charles for a 51-yard touchdown on third-and-11 to give the Pioneers a 7-0 lead.

Basic answered back on the ensuing possession as it converted on a key fourth down to keep the drive alive.

The fourth-down conversion set up a 3-yard touchdown pass from Carducci to Galardy to tie the score at 7. Galardy only caught two passes on the evening, but both went for touchdowns.

The Pioneers regained the lead on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Martin to wide receiver Chayson Lawson on fourth-and-7 from the Basic 26. Lawson’s touchdown gave Canyon Springs its 14-7 halftime lead.

Basic received the opening kickoff of the second half and drove the length of the field for the tying score.

On third-and-goal from the Canyon Springs’ 1 yard line, Basic running back Lorenzo Sampson was stuffed at the line of scrimmage. But extra effort allowed him to muscle his way into the end zone for the tying touchdown.

A key defensive pass-interference penalty against Basic on fourth down helped extend the Pioneers next drive. Martin hit Charles for a 41-yard completion just plays later to set up first-and-goal for the Pioneers.

Martin scrambled 10 yards and shook a couple defenders as he raced into the end zone to give Canyon Springs a 21-14 lead.

Cahill called a double reverse on the Wolves’ game winning drive that was executed perfectly for a 48-yard rush by senior receiver Matt Dembinski.

Basic caught Canyon Springs off guard, and Dembinski rushed down the left sideline before finally being brought down by a defender at the Pioneers 8 yard line.

“That’s a play we work on a lot,” Cahill said of the double reverse. “We were running a lot of flys and we saw that when we ran those flys, their backside was crashing down trying to catch them. So we just caught them.”

Basic was led on offense by quarterback Vince Carducci, who completed 16 of 31 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns.

Carducci's leading receiver was junior wideout Darian Spencer, who caught six passes for 79 yards.

Basic, for the second consecutive week, overcame a touchdown deficit to come out victorious.