By Don Ketchum

The Division I quarterfinal game’s opening sequence was not a good omen for Phoenix Brophy Prep’s football team on Thursday night.

The unbeaten Broncos got a block-in-the-back penalty on the kickoff return, the first play from scrimmage (a run) lost five yards and quarterback Tyler Bruggman’s first two passes fell incomplete.

Chandler Basha scored on its first possession for a 6-0 lead, sending a message that the seventh-seeded team was not going to roll over and die against the second-seeded Broncos.

Basha trailed by nine at the half, but used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take the lead. After Brophy tied it at 29 and the game appeared to be headed for overtime, Basha got the ball at its 20-yard-line with 6:55 left in the game and drove close enough for Justin Barber to boot a 26-yard field goal with 1:22 left and held on for a stunning 32-29 upset at Phoenix College.

Basha (9-3) now advances to next Friday’s (Nov. 18) semifinal at Gilbert Mesquite High against No. 3 Phoenix Desert Vista, which easily disposed of Phoenix Pinnacle 52-7. Brophy finished 11-1.

Quarterback Kyle Duran was cool and calm in the pocket for the Bears all night and especially on the final drive.

He guided the team down the field, and helped by the running of Rajhan Meriwether, got his team in positon to win it. In the case of Meriwether, a sophomore, a star was born. He rushed for 138 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.

Basha and Brophy nearly matched each other in total offense. Brophy had 501, Basha 494.

Duran completed 16 of 27 passes for 229 yards and a pair of touchdowns to Devin Reed, and scored on a 20-yard draw in the third quarter.

“He’s been doing that for two years now,’’ said Basha coach Bernie Busken.

Asked if he was nervous with his team in a 21-12 halftime hole, Busken said, “I’m always nervous.’’

There were no adjustments at halftime, just a simple request from Busken.

“We asked them to play harder and harder, and they did,’’ he said. “I’m proud of the kids. They played their (tails) off. They played as a team.’’

Basha also was more physical, probably something that Brophy had not encountered during its impressive run to the quarters.

After his first two incompletions, Bruggman was brilliant, completing 20 of 24 passes in the first half for 244 yards. The junior finished 36 of 44 for 380 yards.

His two main targets were Devon Allen, who caught 14 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns, and Fred Gammage, who caught 10 for 119 and a TD.

With the clock quickly winding down, Brophy tried to get in position to tie it, but ran out of time. The Broncos completed a pass play that resulted in a fumble after it appeared they got a first down to stop the clock. Brophy recovered and Bruggman tried to spike it. Too late.

“The ball was fumbled backwards and we didn’t make the first down. The right call was made (allowing the clock to continue to run),’’ said Brophy coach Scooter Molander.

“They (Basha) played well. They have a very good offense. It is challenging to stop. We usually score more points than this. We lost the turnover margin and that was tough for us.’’