Chandler Basha rallies to roll past Laveen Cesar Chavez
Once Chandler Basha stopped turning the ball over Friday night, its offense was able to get its tempo going and its defense was able to roll over Laveen Cesar Chavez.
Using a fast-paced offensive game plan, Basha rallied from two first-half deficits behind sophomore quarterback Ryan Kelley's passing and running in a 55-12 win.
On defense, Basha stuffed the Cesar Chavez running game from the mid-second quarter until the fourth and scored a pair of defensive touchdowns.
Kelley threw two interceptions in the first half, but ended the night with 16 completions on 27 attempts, 217 yards and two touchdowns. He was also effective running draw plays, rushing for two touchdowns and 47 yards.
Chavez grabbed an early 6-0 lead, then picked off Kelley on Basha's next possession. But when Basha got the ball back, it drove for its first touchdown, Kelley's run around the right side on fourth-and-goal.
Nathan Guzman gave Cesar Chavez a 12-7 lead with a short TD run with 10:37 left in the second quarter, and Cesar Chavez recovered a fumble. Minutes later, Cesar Chavez was inside the Basha 10-yard line and went for it on fourth down, but failed to get a first down. Basha took over and drove 93 yards for the go-ahead score, a 24-yard pass from Kelley to Doc O'Connor.
Basha (3-0) led 21-12 at halftime, then Austin Williams returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown and defensive end Maison Ardans recovered a fumble and returned it for another score.
Basha totaled 34 third-quarter points and forced a running game clock for the final quarter of the game. It has yet to face its sectional opponents, which include D-I powers Chandler and Chandler Hamilton. Cesar Chavez dropped to 0-3 on the season.
Basha kept Cesar Chavez coach Jim Rattay from his 300th career win for the time being.
"We made some big plays at the right time and turned things around," Basha coach Gerald Todd said. "Three-and-0 is a great place to be, we need to be 3-0 on the road going back home."
Basha's next two games are away.
