42-point first half puts Chandler into Round 2
For the first time this season, Chandler’s offense bolted from the gate and then hung 20 firstquarter points on Hennessey Friday night, setting up a 48-16 win that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score.
The Lions stayed on the accelerator in the second quarter, leading 42-0 at the half and 48-0 before Hennessey added two touchdowns late in the game.
Now it’s on to the secound round of the playoffs, which means an almost three-hour trip to Frederick for a 7 p.m. Friday game against the Bombers, who, like Chandler are 8-3 for the season.
“That’s what we’ve been missing every time,” Chandler coach Jack Gray said of the quick start. “We’ve been starting out slowly.
“Tonight, we jumped out fast and didn’t let off thegas pedal in the first half.
“It’s something we’ve been working on and something we knew could happen. The guys finally got it done and had the right mindset. They did well.”
The Lion got the first score just over two minutes into the game when Alec Jackson found Jeremy Galbraith for an 11yard touchdown.
Jackson hit Stafaun Mackey with a 21-yard touchdown pass later in the quarter and Casmen Hill added a score when he ran 82 yards to the house with 1:02 left in the first.
In the second quarter, it was Hill with a two-yard run, Ty Garver with a 10yard touchdown pass and Jackson with a five-yard scoring run just before the half.
Hill closed out Chandler’s scoring with a 17yard run with 4:34 left in the third.
The Lions’ defense ran its scoreless streak to 11 quarters before the Eagles found the end zone with 8:28 left in the game.
After giving up a season- high 34 points in a loss to Jones, the Lions had back-to-back shutouts against Star Spencer and Luther and held Hennessey scoreless for three periods.
“A few weeks back, we simplified some things and getting back to basics,” Gray said of the Lions’ defense. “Read and react and try to play fast. They’re catching on, and when we do that, we play pretty well.”
The game also featured a flurry of thick snow that was forecasted or expected. It last through much of the second period, but didn’t stick or affect the game.
“That was pretty wild,” Gray said. “I’ve never coach in anything like that or played in it.”