Chandler’s defense kept Sperry bottled up all night, sparking a 47-7 victory that assured the Lions of the home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
The Lions had been tied with Sperry for second place in District 2A-4, but Chandler now is guaranteed to finish in second place, which brings a home-field berth when the playoffs start.
“This was playing for a home game in the playoffs,” Chandler coach Jack Gray said after the game Friday. “Sperry’s a good team. We wanted to come make a statement and clean up things we’ve been wanting to work on the last few weeks.
“It was a game where if we came out and played like we wanted to, that score was going to be that score. But they’re a really good team and if we played bad, they were going to make it a ballgame.”
Chandler allowed only 84 yards of total offense, and half of those came on a 41-yard touchdown pass with 5:99 left in the opening quarter. That briefly tied the score at 7-7, but the rest of the game was Chandler’s.
The Lions’ defense didn’t allow Sperry to convert on a single third-down play and set the tone.
“I’m happy,” Gray said. “The one deep pass - we were much better after that.
“To get the ball back as quickly as we did and run the ball like we did, it’s going to be hard for anyone to stop us.”
The Lions rolled up 556 yards total offense and led 33-7 at the half.
The first-half scores were by Darius Wade, Ty Garver, Cruz Jackson, Garver again and Javarious Wade.
After intermission, it was more of the same, with Grant McGinnis scoring twice and freshman London Ward once.
Gray said he was pleased with the offensive play. “Getting in the double-tight I and just running three plays at them and making it work,” he said. “I tell the guys all the time, ‘you have to make plays work. There’s no magic play.’
“They came out and did that the whole game, so it makes it easy on me.”
Although the playoff brackets could change due to upsets Friday night, Hugo looks like the Lions most likely opponent in the first round.
For the second round, the Lions would be on the road, most likely at Millwood at Crossings Christian.
The Lions are 5-1 in district and 6-3 for the season with the win over Sperry. They close out the regular season at home Friday against Dewey, which is 2-4 in the district and 2-7 for the season.