Chandler ran off 62 unanswered points and swamped district rival Bethel, 62-21, on Homecoming Friday night in a game that didn’t seem as close as the final score indicates.
The victory leaves the Lions tied with Jones for first place in District 2A-2 and sets up an important two-game stretch.
The Lions head to Crossing Christian on Thursday and host Jones the following week games that likely will determine the district’s playoff pecking order.
“These next two are definitely big ones,” coach Jack Gray said.
“Crossings and Jones back to back - we have to zero in and the focus has to be higher.
“We have to understand it’s a tough opponent.
Crossings is 2-1 in district, having lost to Jones, 32-10, and Jones is 3-0.
Meeker, 2-1 in district, plays at Jones this weekend.
Luther, the fifth contender for a playoff spot, is 1-2, having lost to Crossings and Jones.
The Lions are at Kellyville this week and Meeker the next.
Chandler’s starters started off poorly against Bethel, giving up a 70-yard touchdown run-and-pass on the Wildcats’ first possession and losing a fumble on the ensuing kickoff.
That was Bethel’s highwater mark, however, as Chandler dominated the rest of the first half.
The Lions built a 48-7 lead at the half and turned the game over to the backups for most of the second half.
Chandler got its first score when Alec Jackson hooked up with Cruz Jackson for a 65yard scoring pass.
A little more than two minutes later, Carson Clagg ran 49 yards for a score and Cruz Jackson caught a pass for a 34yard score.
Landon Miller’s point-after kick made it 20-6 at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter as more of the same, with Alec Jackson running for a 3-yard score, Braxton Estes catching a 16-yard touchdown pass and Cruz Jackson catching his third touchdown pass.
That made it 48-7, but the Lions weren’t done.
Clagg ran a yard for another score early in the third quarter and Felix Cargill ran six yards for a touchdown, to make it 62-7.
Bethel found the end one a couple of times after that to make it 6221.
Even though the starters were out of the game most of the second half, the demeanor of the Chandler coaching staff didn’t change.
“As soon as we start getting other guys out there, we’re coaching them just as hard as anybody,” Gray said. “You hear us getting mad and coaching them, because they’re going to be starters one day.
“We doing a lot more coaching on the details and getting back to basics when that happens.
“We’re trying to stay on those guys and make sure they do things like they’re supposed to.
“We try to get them as much as experience as we can.”
“The coaching never stops, that’s for sure.