Chandler scored almost every way imaginable Friday night and dominated Sequoyah Tahlequah, 49-7, in the district opener for both teams.
The Lions scored on a blocked punt returned for a touchdown, an intercepted pass, a 62-yard touchdown pass and three rushing touchdowns and almost scored on a fumble return, a kickoff return and a safety.
It was the first time this season that the Lions had a game with the outcome settled before the fourth quarter started.
And their total of 49 points was more than the 35 they’d racked up in the first three games combined.
“We had some good special teams things happen for us, and some good defensive things happened for us.,” said coach Jack Gray. “And we were able to run the ball at will and that opened up the boot game and everything was clicking for us.”
Now 2-2 for the season and 1-0 in district, the Lions will head to South Tulsa Friday night for an important game with third-ranked Metro Christian. The Patriots are 4-0 after dispatching Dewey, 48-7, last week.
The Lions and Patriots are among four district teams that won their opener and are 1-0 in district, so the winner of their game will claim a share of the pole position.
“With their ranking and what they’ve done, everyone expects them to be one of the best, if not the best in the district,” Gray said of Metro. “It’s a big game, and so was this one tonight against Sequoyah.”
The Lions led Sequoyah, 28-0, with less than two minutes gone in the second quarter, so there was little drama involving the outcome, but it was an entertaining game for Chandler fans.
Darius Ward got the scoring started with an 11-yard run on a thirdand-8 carry in the first period. Quarterback Cruz Jackson found Ty Garver on a 62-yard catch-and-run just before the quarter ended and the Lions were back in the end zone three minutes later when Chace Buchanan blocked a punt, picked it up and carried it 45 yards for a touchdown.
On Sequoyah’s next play, Jackson recovered a fumble at the Indians’ four-yard line. Two plays later, Grant McGinnis ran it in from the two, making the score 28-0 with 10:09 left in the half.
On Sequoyah’s next possession, Garver intercepted as pass to give Chandler possession on the Indians’ 19.
McGinnis scored on Chandler’s first snap, cutting back to the right and scoring with 8:22 left in the quarter.
Sequoyah got its only touchdown on the following possession, but Jackson took the Indians’ kickoff to the house. It was brought back due to a holding penalty and the half ended with the Lions up, 35-7.
Jackson picked off a pass and ran it back for a touchdown midway through the third quarter and freshman London Ward ran 42 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter on his first carry of the night.
Boston Estes was money all night for Chandler, kicking the point-after following each of the Lions’ seven touchdowns.
Chandler finished with 359 yards, 195 coming on the ground and 164 through the air, and showed a more diverse offense than in the first three games.
“I think offensively we hadn’t found ourselves, what we do well and who we are,” Gray said. “We were still kind of iffy against Lone Grove and going to Clinton, I thought our guys played very well. Clinton is a good team and I saw a lot of good things. The Clinton game got me excited about this group.
“They’ve been working their butts off these last couple of weeks and it’s starting to show. I’m proud of them.”
Against Sequoyah, the Lions showed more variety in plays and in people handling the ball.