Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Trick play pulls Green Valley out of first-half funk in win against Coronado

Las Vegas Sun's HS Football Top 10

Christopher DeVargas

Members of the Green Valley High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun’s high school football media day July 20, 2016 at the South Point. They include, from left, Christian Mayberry, Eric Brown, C.J. Araujo, Braxton Harms, Brock Hershberger, and Eric Faber.

Prep Sports Now

New powers

Las Vegas Sun sports editors Ray Brewer and Case Keefer recount games they attended on Friday before moving to this week's schedule of high school football action.

Green Valley needed a spark Friday night at Coronado, and found it in a double-reverse pass on its first play of the second half.

The trick play went for an 80-yard touchdown from quarterback Christian Mayberry to Brayden Anderson to set the Gators off on a run where they scored the game’s final 28 points to beat the Cougars 35-17.

“We went in at halftime and made some adjustments, talked to them about letting loose and having fun,” Green Valley coach Brian Castro said. “We knew we needed to win to get into the playoffs, so we decided to let it all hang out and see what happens.”

The Gators didn’t get a chance to execute the strategy as quickly as they would have liked. Trailing 17-7, Coronado recovered a pooch kick to open the second half.

The Cougars drove to the Gators 20-yard line, but missed a field goal. That set up the Mayberry to Anderson connection, and Green Valley never looked back.

Mayberry, the team’s leading receiver coming into the game but had to switch to quarterback with a season-ending injury to Kalyja Waialae, then threw the go-ahead score to Logan Beard on one of the Gators’ next drives.

“We had to turn to Mayberry and he did a great job,” Castro said. “He’s just a football player, so to be honest with you, we knew he could do it.”

Julian Hulse ran in three touchdowns for Green Valley, which eliminated Coronado from playoff contention. Green Valley hosts Foothill next week with a playoff spot going to the winner.

“We’ve had some really good battles with them and they do a great job coaching their kids up and having them ready to play,” Castro said. “It should be an exciting game.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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