The Chandler Lions scored on their first possession and dominated the game, but Kiefer scored on its last possession and won it.
The 20-15 verdict in the first round of the playoffs marked the end of the Lions’ season. They finished with a 7-4 record and a fourth straight trip to the playoffs for the team’s five seniors.
“It was one of the best performances I’ve ever had as a coach,” said Chandler head coach Jack Gray. “Fighting through and being gritty. I’m really proud of these guys.
“We just needeed a few extra breaks. Our guys played hard. If you take every down as a battle, we were handling them.
“We needed a play to go our way, like a fourth-andlong or on the goal line. It was up and down, back and forth and we needed a play to go our way.”
The Lions were in command most of the game, leading until five minutes were left to play and not allowingKieferafirstdown except on a penalty until late in the third quarter.
But Kiefer did not go away, taking a 12-7 lead and then coming back to retake the lead for good with less than two minutes remaining.
The Lions came back on their final possession, driving to Kiefer’s 16-yard line with 43 seconds left, but the drive ended on a third-down interception in the end zone.
“Thedefenseplayedtheir butts off. We had some ball control issues, but we got some turnovers ourselves. All those guys on offense were playing defense, too, and they stepped up and played great.
“We were the ones down in their red zone the whole game, throwing punches. We just need something to go out way.”
Darius Wade started the Lions’ scoring with a 4-yard touchdown run with 4:48 left in the first quarter.
Chandler had a chance to go up two scores following a Kiefer fake punt that didn’t work, but the Lions couldn’t get in the end zone after having a first-and-goal at the Trojans’ 4.
Kiefer got its first score after recovering a Lion fumble in the fourth quarter, but the Trojans were penalized for excessive celebrating, moving the ball back 15 yards for the conversion try. The Kiefer kicker slipped on the artificial surface and the kick failed, leaving Chandler ahead,7-6.
On the Lions’ next possession, Waderanforalong touchdown that was called back due to a holding penalty and the Lions turned it over on another fumble.
Kiefer’s Brody Baxter ran for a 22-yard score with 5:25 left, making the score 12-7.
Chandler answered with a 40-yard scoring run by Wade and a two-point conversion pass to Sam Hall, making it 15-12 with 4:27 left in the game.
Kiefer got the go-ahead score when quarterback Cash Worley ran four runs to the end zone with 2:03 left in the game.