Westview overcomes 14-point deficit, deals Basha 45-35 loss

September 25, 2014 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


It didn't look like a good night was in store early for Westview on Thursday when Basha strolled into Avondale. The Knights were without leading rusher Rameihk Bowles and spotted the visiting Bears two touchdowns after just five offensive plays.

There was no panic. Running back Jalen Johnson came to the rescue with his best game of the season --- one of many in his career -- as Westview methodically rallied for a 45-35 victory in a Division I contest.

Westview improved to 3-2 with its two losses by a total of four points to Boulder Creek and Sandra Day O'Connor. Basha slipped to 3-2 dropping its second game in a row.

Johnson, a senior who had a big game last year against Basha rushing for 233 yards and four TDs in a 38-28 win, carried 26 times for 270 yards and three touchdowns as Westview's ground game tore through the Basha defense for 419 yards. Johnson's third TD run midway through the third quarter drew the Knights even for the first time at 35. Johnson's other scores came on runs of 7 and 69 yards in the opening half. Johnson got help from sophomore Tyler Vasko, who picked up the slack for Bowles with 143 yards on 18 rushes. Vasko's 12-yard TD run with 3:20 to play closed out Basha.

Westview spotted Basha 14-0 and 21-7 leads in the first half, but pecked away with mostly runs and some occasional passes that struck paydirt. Sophomore quarterback Ryan Martinez, playing for only the second time this season,  tossed two first-half TD passes to receiver Storme Donahue (19 yards and 29 yards) to keep Westview within striking distance. Donahue quarterbacked the Knights the past three games.

Westview trailed at halftime, 35-28, but stuck with its rushing game that kept the ball away from Basha. The Knights' defense chimed in adding pressure in the second half on Basha quarterback Ryan Kelley. That combination blanked the Bears after intermission. Westview outscored Basha, 17-0, in the second half.

Kelley, a sophomore, threw for 185 yards and three tochdowns in the first quarter. He finished the first half 15-of-18 for 278 yards and four TDs. Kelley's final totals were 21-of-31 for 330 yards and 4 TDs. Kelley threw two touchdown passes each to Doc O'Connor and Hunter Dean-Gibson. Basha ran only three plays in the third period and missed a field goal early in the fourth quarter that could have tied the game at 38.

Basha forced a three-and-out after missing the field goal and got the ball back at Westview's 45. Linebacker Alonzo Alexander, who had a busy second half, blitzed Kelley on third-and-10 and forced an underthrown pass. It was picked off by Westview defensive tackle Dezmon Dean, who returned it to the Basha 47. Seven plays later Vazco scored the game clincher.