Del Sol enters Sunrise title game in familiar position

By Case Keefer (contact)

Friday, Nov. 27, 2009 | 10 a.m.

Del Sol will compete in the Sunrise Regional Championship for the fourth straight year when it takes on visiting Basic at 1 p.m. Saturday.

But the Dragons are determined to make the outcome different this time around. For the last three years, Del Sol has lost to Las Vegas High in the game.

With Las Vegas out of the picture this year, it could finally be Del Sol’s time to advance to the state championship game.

“It’s a game we have missed in the past,” Del Sol coach Preston Goroff said. “We’re fortunate that we’re getting another shot at it. We’re going to try to break through.”

Del Sol (11-1) will have to do it against a familiar foe in Basic (11-1). The Dragons knocked the Wolves out of the playoffs last year and beat them 21-19 earlier this season.

Both coaches agreed, however, that much has changed since their matchup on Oct. 2. Goroff and Basic coach Jeff Cahill both said their teams had improved tremendously.

“It was the first really big game of the year for both of us and it showed,” Cahill said. “They were nervous and special teams weren’t really up to par. That’s the kinds of things that happen in the first game. I expect a lot cleaner game this time around.”

In the first game, Del Sol blocked two Basic field goals that could have been the difference. The teams also combined for seven turnovers.

Basic quarterback Tyler Dobbins threw two interceptions, while Del Sol quarterback Troy Miller threw one of his own.

Judging by their games last week, neither team will make as many mistakes Saturday. Del Sol avenged its only loss of the season with a 42-13 rout over Liberty. Basic cruised to a similar 42-20 victory against Foothill.

“We’ve had a lot of games where one side played well and the other side had some problems,” Cahill said. “The Foothill game was the first time all three phases came together.”

Goroff’s feelings on Del Sol’s last game are eerily similar.

“Last week, we probably did our best job in all three phases of the game,” Goroff said.

Senior receiver Evan Weinstock led Del Sol’s charge in the game. Between rushing and receiving, Weinstock had 174 yards and three touchdowns. He also notched an interception on defense.

It was no surprise to Goroff, who is keeping it no secret that Weinstock is the player Del Sol looks to when it needs results.

“I can’t even put it into words,” Goroff said. “He’s been such a go-to guy for three years and people just don’t realize it because we have such a strong running game. But when we need to make a play through the air, he’s always the guy to do it.”

Weinstock has experienced the Sunrise Regional Championship losses the last couple years. He said the Dragons have been more focused at practiced than ever before this week to prevent a fourth straight defeat in the game.

Basic is also working against history. The Wolves haven’t won a state championship since 1960. Cahill can’t even imagine what advancing to the game this year would mean.

“It would be huge,” Cahill said. “The city of Henderson has stood by Basic forever and I think that if we are fortunate enough to get by Del Sol, which is going to be real tough, it will be a great thing for the whole community.”

Del Sol has no intentions of making it easy. The Dragons have their own visions of an appearance in the state championship.

“It would be great,” Weinstock said. “The last few years we came up just short and this game would mean so much.”