The first offensive play of the game foreshadowed the following 48 minutes Friday night.
Chandler’s offensive line cleared a hole for quarterbaack Alec Jackson, who sprinted 85 yards before being tackled at the Frederick 5-yard line.
Two plays later, he was in the end zone and the Lions had the first of the 56 points they would score en route to a one-sided second-round playoff win.
The 56-21 victory puts the Lions into the state quarterfinals this week against Victory Christian, which beat Prague, 48-20, last week. The game will be at a neutral field, Edmond Santa Fe High School, with a 7 p.m. kickoff.
The fast start was the second in a row for the Lions, who struggled through some slow first halves early in the season. This week, they were up 2-14 at the half and led Hennessey 44-zip after two quarters the previous week.
“We started approaching things differently in the middle of the season,” coach Jack Gray said. “We had a lack of focus for a while, especially in those two losses.
“As a coaching staff, we just turned it up They’re responding well, playing meaner and a lot more violently. We’re tearing it up pretty good.
“We just took it to another level and they responded well.”
Chandler’s offensive line was in control the whole game and cleared the way for three first-quarter touchdowns.
Jackson was back in the end zone for a two-yard sneak with 3:24 left in the period and Casmen Hill ran for a three-yarder with 20 seconds left.
In the second quarter, it was Hill, Hill and more Hill, as the senior back ran for a 76-yarder with 11:47 left in the half, a four-yarder at the 9:08 mark and a 35-yarder with 2:26 to go.
That last one made it 42-14. Hill added another 35-yarder midway through the third quarter and Stefaun Mackey caught a touchdown pass to close out the scoring.
“Our offensive line were the workhourses tonight,” Gray said. “We were beating up on them pretty good and staying locked on. A lot of intensity and a great effort. Really proud of them.
“And the defense. As far as the base offense they ran, our defense shut it down.”