Joel Viss
ASU Student Journalist

Football: Basha stuns Brophy

October 10, 2016 by Joel Viss, Arizona State University


The Brophy College Prep Broncos were stunned Friday on Homecoming/Senior Night.  

A potential game-tying 33-yard field goal went wide right as time expired, giving the Basha Bears a 27-24 win at Phoenix College.

“Extremely, extremely proud of the team, the coaches and the program,” Basha head coach Gerald Todd said.

With less than three minutes left on the clock, Brophy placed its trust in its defense after taking a 24-21 lead.  

But Brophy didn't have an answer for wide receiver Terrell Brown. After a sack forced Basha to call its final timeout with less than a minute left in the game, the Bears went to what worked for them the entire game.

Brown ran a deep route into the end zone for the game-winning 35-yard touchdown catch, capping his night with 10 receptions and 134 yards.

“He (quarterback Ryan Kelley) threw (the ball) up and I made a play on it like I usually do,” Brown said.

But Brophy (7-1) gave itself a chance to tie the game when it blocked the extra point, the second extra point Basha failed to convert in the game, after Brown's touchdown. 

Brophy quarterback Caleb Moore began the final drive with three straight completions to get his team within field goal range.

“We had a chance at the end to tie it up and go to overtime,” Brophy head coach Scooter Molander said. “But we didn’t get it done.”

Todd said his defense bended but did not break at the end.

The 3-5 Bears did not back down from their previously undefeated opponent early, scoring on their first drive to set the tone. The four-play drive ended with a screen that resulted in a 58-yard touchdown to wide receiver Connor Collins.

But Brophy answered with a touchdown of its own on its first possession. Brophy quarterback Matt Ryan got the Broncos on the scoreboard with an 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Matthew Kempton to put Brophy up 7-6. 

On Basha's third drive, Kelley took off for a 60-yard run to help set his team up for another score. After two passes to Brown, running back Kyle Turas ran it in from one yard out. 

Basha then converted a two-point attempt after a pass to receiver Jaylyn Goodman. Brophy ended the first half with a 20-yard field goal.

In the third quarter, Brophy snuffed out a fake punt attempt near midfield during Basha's first drive in the second half. Brophy's offense capatilized on the mistake on the ensuing drive, when running back Noah Pittenger scored a one-yard touchdown on fourth-and-goal.  

It was then that Kelly and Brown started showing off their chemistry.

“We have a really good connection and the hitches were open all night because they were bailing so much,” Brown said. “Even if they are in man, just throw it up or run that 10 yard out and I’ll be wide open.”

After Pittenger's touchdown, three receptions by Brown helped set up Basha's next touchdown.

Brophy loaded their defenders on Brown's side of the field, leaving Goodman open for 45-yard touchdown pass.

This time the extra point was good. With only 9:41 left in the game and trailing 21-17, Brophy looked to act fast behind its run game.

Pittenger rushed eight times for 42 yards in Brophy's final scoring drive, which ended with a Moore 6-yard touchdown pass to backup running back Erik Dimaria on fourth down.