SUNRISE FOOTBALL: Wolves won’t be sneaking up this year

Basic's football team didn't have the best resume heading into the playoffs last fall, but that didn't stop the Wolves from advancing to the Sunrise Region title game.

With numerous key players back this season, it's unlikely that they'll be able to sneak up on anybody this year.

"We definitely surprised everybody last year at the end of the playoffs," said senior defensive end Kendahl Blakely, a first-team All-Southeast League pick last season. "I think we're one of the heavyweights this year. I think we're going to go out there and prove everybody wrong."

The Wolves went 4-5 in the regular season and were just 1-3 in the Southeast League, earning the league's final playoff berth. They lost the final two games of the regular season, including a 30-0 defeat at Coronado in the regular-season finale.

But they ousted Northeast League champion Canyon Springs in the first round of the playoffs and followed with a win over Las Vegas before losing 28-16 to Liberty in the Sunrise title game.

"I guess it just kicked in," Blakely said. "We figured out that lacking won't do it, and hard work pays off.

"I think the Coronado game, that turned us around when we took that hard fall. After that, I don't know what kicked in, but we just came back and got at it."

The Wolves hope to build on that postseason surge when they open their season at Palo Verde on Sept. 4.

"I think we've got some high expectations this year coming off that playoff run," Basic coach Jeff Cahill said. "We've got a lot of guys back, and we've got a tough schedule. So we're looking forward to that first game at Palo. We'll see what we're all about."

One of the key building blocks returning for the Wolves is quarterback Aeneas "Tank" McAllister, who came on down the stretch last season and ended up passing for 1,553 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also led the team in rushing with 420 yards and 10 TDs.

"He was kind of learning on the job last year," Cahill said. "He was a backup as a sophomore and didn't get to play much. And he didn't grow up as a quarterback, so he had a lot to learn. He's improving every day, and we hope he's going to be better than last year."

One person who thinks McAllister will do more this season is senior slot receiver Brian Evans, who also earned all-league honors as a defensive back last season.

"I think Tank's going to be explosive this year," Evans said. "He's going to pass, I believe, for over 2,000 (yards). He's going to do good."

McAllister will have to find a new go-to receiver this season, having lost all-state receiver Josh Villaros (46 catches, 842 yards, 11 TDs) to graduation.

But juniors DeShawn Eagles and Frank Harris should help make up for the loss of Villaros. Like Villaros, both are big targets. Eagles stands 6 feet 4 inches and weighs 175 pounds. Harris, who won the Division I state title in the high jump and was third in the 200-meter dash in the spring, is 6-3, 190.

"They're going to be good for us," McAllister said. "They're big in size, they catch real good and they're fast."

On the defensive side of the ball, the Wolves return nine starters and have been able to hit the ground running in their second season of running a 3-3-5 set. Cahill said the new defensive scheme required quite a bit of teaching at the beginning of last season.

"Last year was our first year in the 3-3-5, so coming back into that again, we were able to just keep going," Cahill said. "We didn't have to do a lot of teaching. They already knew what we were doing."

Cahill hopes that experience translates into a stronger defense on the field. The Wolves allowed an average of 28.2 points last season, including 36.2 in their six losses.

"Early on, our defense should hopefully be there for us," Cahill said. "We've got a lot of really good kids on that side of the ball. I think the offense will come along, as well. And if we can get them both rolling, then we'll be dangerous."

Blakely agrees, as long as the team continues to work and doesn't become complacent.

"We just keep reminding them that we have the talent to be great this year, and all we've got to do is work hard and we can do great things," Blakely said.

Contact prep sports editor Damon Seiters at 702-380-4587 or dseiters@reviewjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter: @DamonSeiters