Basic finally beats Del Sol, earns playoff spot with last-minute win

Edward Hauth, Las Vegas Sun

Friday, Oct. 28, 2011 | 12:57 a.m.

Basic High sophomore Antraye Johnson rushed for the game-winning touchdown from 1-yard out with 43 seconds remaining Thursday to give the Wolves a 29-25 victory over host Del Sol and a spot in next week's playoffs.

“It’s huge, not only to get into the playoffs, but the fact this is the first time Basic has ever beat Del Sol in varsity football,” Basic coach Jeff Cahill said. “That’s something the kids really wanted to hang their hats on.”

Basic took a 21-13 lead into the fourth quarter.

As the Wolves were driving to take a two-possession lead, Del Sol senior defensive back Raheem Jones intercepted Basic backup quarterback Jalen Rose for his second interception of the game.

On the ensuing possession, Dragon senior running back Chris Marshall burst free for a 63-yard touchdown run to trim the deficit to 21-19 with 8:07 remaining in regulation.

Marshall was stopped just shy of the goal line on the two-point conversion attempt.

Following a Basic three-and-out on its next possession, Marshall busted loose for a 65-yard touchdown rush with 4:53 left to play to give the Dragons a 25-21 advantage.

The Dragons again came up unsuccessful on their two-point conversion try.

Marshall rushed for 302 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, including 218 rushing yards in the second half alone.

With the Wolves season on the line, Basic drove 80 yards in just over four minutes of action for the go-ahead touchdown from Johnson with less than a minute remaining.

“I was thinking offense is going to have to come on and take over,” Johnson said. “It means a lot to Coach Cahill. We’ve never beat Del Sol and we finally beat them with this team.”

Johnson had two 13-yard runs on the game-winning drive, the second of which came on third-and-10 from the Del Sol 40 yard-line to extend the possession.

Rose connected with junior wide receiver DeVonte Boyd for a 26-yard strike on the second play of Basic’s final drive to move the ball into Del Sol territory.

Rose later moved the ball into the red zone on a 15-yard gain on a quarterback keeper to help set up Johnson’s game-winning score.

Rose hit Boyd on the two-point conversion attempt to give Basic a 29-25 lead.

Johnson finished the game with 199 yards rushing and two touchdowns as he started at quarterback in place of injured starter Eddie Vega.

“This is also a big win for our quarterback Eddie Vega, who got hurt last week,” Cahill said. “It’s looking like he is going to get cleared and he’s going to be able to play. So he’s going to finish his senior year the way it should be finished on the field.”

Del Sol moved the ball down to the Basic 26-yard line on its final drive on a 33-yard catch and run by Marshall, but that was as far as the Dragons could move the ball.

With the victory, Basic earned the No. 4 seed from the Southeast and will play Canyon Springs next Friday in the Sunrise quarterfinals.

Canyon Springs won the Northeast Division Thursday with a 22-21 win over Las Vegas High in overtime to secure the No. 1 seed.