Members of the Basic 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, Richard Schmidt, De’Shawn Eagles, Aaron Mcallister, and Jacob Fulton.
Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 | 12:35 a.m.
Prep Sports Now
Week 1 ruled
Las Vegas Sun sports editors Ray Brewer and Case Keefer recap a particularly memorable week 1 in Las Vegas high school football that included Bishop Gorman obliterated a Texas power and two games between top five teams that came down to the final minute.
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Frank Harris fielded the kickoff and immediately appeared to be tackled.
But the Basic High returner broke free from multiple tackles, changed running directions twice and found himself near the sideline. Soon, he was off to the races, and nobody was going to catch him for an 80-yard touchdown.
His team was off to the races, too.
Basic, one week after scoring 55 points, scored early and often against visiting Chaparral in a high-scoring 65-44 victory.
“If I had to guess I would say I broke five or six tackles,” Harris said.
Basic has played in the past two Sunrise Regional championship games, but many of the players who were key contributors in those playoff runs have graduated.
But the Wolves still have a McAllister on the roster. Aaron McAllister was his brother, Aeneas’, backup last season and has been the difference maker through two weeks.
In Week 1, he passed for five touchdowns. Against Chaparral, he passed for nearly 250 yards and four touchdowns, and rushed for another score.
More important, because he started a few games last season, he brings much-needed experience to the roster.
“We have a lot of weapons and Aaron is throwing the ball great right now,” Basic coach Jeff Cahill said. “When we put up points like that we are tough to stop.”
Harris and DeShawn Eagles, who had two touchdown receptions, have made the most of their chances as the Wolves’ primary offensive weapons. And junior Jordan Gallegos played both ways all night, scoring two touchdowns on offense, including the first touchdown of the game on a halfback pass on a fourth-down play.
“We have a lot of receivers who are very good in what they do and we have a good quarterback,” Harris said.
While Basic’s offense is scoring at will, its defense is a work in progress. Chaparral’s Santiago Vialpando passed for more than 300 yards and five touchdowns, and Kentrell Petite had 13 receptions for more than 200 yards and two touchdowns.
“We lost our two starting linebackers at the beginning this game and it showed,” Cahill said. “We’ll get those guys back and healthy.”
But there were some bright spots on defense. Quison Owens had a long interception return for a touchdown and Eagles had an interception he also nearly returned for a score.
Basic returns to action Sept. 16 against Clark.
Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21
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