Question marks loom for Green Valley after defeat

By Jesse Granger

Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015 | 12:45 a.m.

In last year’s season opener Green Valley High made a late stop to seal its 26-23 victory over Charter Oak High of California.

Charter Oak running back Zion Echols made sure his team wouldn’t be leaving Las Vegas with a similar result this season.

The senior made his mark on the game within seconds, returning the opening kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown — and he didn’t slow down.

Echols finished the game with 143 rushing yards and five total touchdowns to help the Chargers avenge last season’s loss with a 42-21 romp over the Gators on Friday night.

“We knew coming into the game that he was going to be a force for them, and they proved it tonight,” Green Valley coach Brian Castro said. “I think they did a good job of moving him around and trying to get the ball in his hands.”

Charter Oak gave Echols the ball straight up the middle on its second drive of the game, and he went untouched 20 yards for the score to put the Chargers up 14-0.

He then extended Charter Oak’s lead to 21-0 with a 55-yard touchdown run on its third drive. Echols finished the first quarter with 164 total yards and three scores.

“It was just hard to hit him because you would fill the gap but he would bounce it out or cut it back,” said junior linebacker C.J. Araujo. “You just couldn’t predict where he was going to be.”

And while Green Valley was able to settle down in the second quarter, the game was already out of reach.

“They came out a lot faster and more physical,” Green Valley senior receiver Brayon Williams said. “We made a lot of mental mistakes and that is what caused a lot of problems.”

Echols wasn’t the only one doing damage on offense for the Chargers. Senior quarterback Kamden Brown completed 12-of-16 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown.

After Green Valley grabbed hold of the momentum after cutting the lead to 14 in the third quarter, Brown found junior receiver Brian Casteel for a 58-yard touchdown that slammed the door shut on the Gators.

“We got down and we didn’t answer, so we have to get back to work and figure it out,” Castro said.

One thing Green Valley needed to figure out heading into the season was its quarterback situation, and the three-way battle between A.J. Barilla, A.J. Amelburu and Xavier Jarvus isn’t any clearer after Friday.

All three quarterbacks threw a touchdown, and they combined to go 22-of-35 for 247 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

“I’ll have to look at the film and figure out where we are at,” Castro said. “I do have faith in all three of them that they can execute what we are trying to do. It’s just going to be a matter of looking at the film and figuring out who did the best.”

Perhaps the bigger concern going forward for the Gators is at receiver.

Senior wide receiver Isiah Macklin, who currently has scholarship offers from UNLV and San Diego State, scored Green Valley’s first touchdown of the night — an 18-yard touchdown pass from Amelburu.

But late in the first half, Macklin was knocked out of the game by a monster hit as he caught a pass over the middle.

The Chargers’ defensive back was ejected, but Macklin was not able to return after suffering what appeared to be a concussion.

“He took a shot to the head,” Castro said. “I don’t want to speculate on what it is, but I imagine it’s something up there. We will check it out and hopefully he will be all right.”

Down multiple scores without its biggest weapon, Green Valley had nothing for the Chargers in the second half. And the schedule doesn’t get any easier for the Gators, who make trips to Las Vegas High and Arbor View in the upcoming weeks.

Castro just hopes they won’t have to do it without Macklin.

“That is big,” Castro said. “He has been really good for us in the spring and summer but in football injuries happen and it’s the next guy in and we hope to get him back soon.”

Jesse Granger can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Jesse on Twitter at twitter.com/JesseGranger_.