Basic makes statement with convincing win

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009 | 12:04 a.m.

Basic High punter Kelly Armistead trotted onto the field early in the first quarter Friday night against host Desert Pines with every intention of kicking the ball.

Then, he saw an opening and changed his mind.

Armistead’s risk paid off as he rushed for 33 yards and a first down to keep Basic’s first drive of the game alive. Six plays later, Quinn Richardson bulldozed in from three yards out for a touchdown to cap a 15-play drive in sparking Basic to a 25-6 victory.

Armistead, a senior whose primary positions are wide receiver and safety, has the green light from coach Jeff Cahill to read the play and start running. There is one stipulation — get a first down.

“Coach told me I had to be 100-percent sure to take off and I was 110-percent positive I would make it,” Armistead said. “It was all instinct and reading the play.”

The sequence symbolized Basic’s dominating performance.

The Wolves forced seven turnovers, recorded a safety, had an interception return for a touchdown, recovered an onside kick and physically outplayed a Desert Pines team several considered to be one of the Sunrise Region’s best.

Now, the Wolves feel they should be mentioned along with the region’s elite. After all, they limited a Desert Pines team that scored 50 points in the previous week to 70 yards and two first downs in the first half.

Cahill told his players following the game that they had a state championship caliber team. Their performance confirmed it.

“Tonight was a non-league game, but it was the biggest non-league game you could get,” Cahill said. “We showed we can hang with everybody.”

Basic scored all of its points in the first half, including Tyler Dobbins throwing a 25 yard touchdown pass to Travis Tatiano on the last play of the half.

“Coach Cahill is a great man, a great coach,” Dobbins said. “He knows how to run an offense and he proved tonight that he was the best in the state.”

For as crisp and balanced as Basic was offensively, its defense anchored the victory.

Desert Pines only ran five plays for 16 yards in the first quarter. The Jaguars lined up to punt on the first play of the second quarter, but a errant snap led to a safety and 12-0 Basic lead.

The rest of the night didn’t go any better.

Quarterback Dalton Leilua and wide receiver Eric Tuiloma connected for three touchdowns last week in a blowout of Cheyenne, but Tuiloma only caught four passes for 55 yards against Basic.

Leilua completed 9 of 19 passes and had an interception returned 33 yards by Basic’s Devin James midway through the second quarter for a 19-0 Basic lead.

“Basic came over here and wore our (butts) out,” Desert Pines coach Paul Bennett said. “When you come out and make all of the mistakes we did, you aren’t going to win many games.”

Basic has forced its opponents into several mistakes during the first two weeks. It limited Boulder City to under 100 yards of offense Aug. 28 in a 26-0 victory.

The results are similar to last year when Basic won the Southeast Division title and advanced to the Sunrise semifinals in Cahill’s first year. Despite losing several key contributors from last year, Basic is continuing to find ways to win.

And, yes, they have a chip on their shoulder. Just ask Desert Pines.

“I don’t know how we can be a one year wonder,” Dobbins said. “I guess we will have to continuing proving everyone wrong.”

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or [email protected].