Gators offense aims to keep up

No team has found an answer for Basic’s offense this season.

The Wolves are averaging 55 points and 480 yards of offense through three games.

But Green Valley coach Brian Castro thinks he might have a solution. And it won’t come from his defense.

“We’ve got to score points,” Castro said. “We’ve got to move the ball offensively.”

The ninth-ranked Gators (2-1) will try to match Basic’s offensive firepower when they take on the No. 4 Wolves (3-0) at 7 p.m. today at Basic in the annual “Henderson Bowl” rivalry game.

Basic has moved the ball as well as any team in the area. Quarterback Jaylen Rose has completed 61.5 percent of his passes for 942 yards and 13 touchdowns, with only one interception.

Senior receiver Devonte Boyd gives him an elite threat. He has caught 23 passes for 491 yards and nine TDs.

“They’ve got some guys who can catch and some guys who can run, and we’ve just got to keep hitting them until they don’t want to play anymore,” Green Valley senior linebacker Tyler Topham said.

The Gators are coming off a tremendous comeback against Coronado, as they outscored the Cougars 22-0 in the fourth quarter to claim a 33-26 win.

“It’s good to see that even when we were down we always fight back,” Topham said. “No team wants to be in that hole, especially this game. We want to come out on fire and never get down in that hole.”

Basic has done a great job of putting teams in that hole right away. The Wolves have scored at least 35 first-half points in every game and average 38.3 points in the first half.

“Devonte Boyd’s a pretty good receiver, and our defense has got to be on their game to stop him,”

Green Valley senior receiver Quintin Kohorst said. “But we’ve got to respond to what he does. If Basic scores, we’ve got to respond right back and shove it in their face and score and say, 'We’re here to play.’ We can’t get down. We’ve just got to keep rolling.”

Green Valley’s passing game has come into its own behind sophomore quarterback Christian Lopez, who threw for 401 yards against Coronado.

Lopez has completed 60.3 percent of his passes for 583 yards and two TDs this season. He also has rushed for a team-high 204 yards and six TDs.

“The offensive line gives him a lot of time,” said Kohorst, one of seven Green Valley receivers with four or more catches. “He’s a young kid and still learning, but he’s got a great amount of time back there to make decisions and give us the ball.”

Markus Varner has caught 24 passes for 293 yards, and Kyler Chavez has added 11 catches for 208 yards. Both players topped 100 yards receiving last week.

“We’ve been fortunate to have some guys come open, and our quarterback’s found them and done a real good job with that,” Castro said. “If anything, it just helps keep defenses honest.”

And the rivalry should help keep the energy level high throughout the game.

“It’s exciting every year,” Castro said. “Our kids are excited about it. They know what’s at stake.”