Chandler scored 21 points in the opening six minutes of the third quarter Friday night and turned a one-point halftime lead into a 40-18 win over Stroud.
It was the Lions’ second win in a row in the annual rivalry game and was the fifth in eight tries for Chandler head coach Jack Gray.
Stroud led almost the entire first half, largely due to three touchdowns by senior Aiden Collins, who ran for one, caught a pass for one and returned a kickoff 95 yards for another.
After halftime, during which Gray said he told his team “they’re playing harder than you are, and we have to rise to the occasion,” the Lions scored on their next three possessions and took command of the game.
“That was a bad first half, and that’s nothing against Stroud,” Gray said. “They played their butts off and Coach Presley coached his butt off. They got after it. It was a perfect storm. They played really good and we played really bad.”
On the other side of the field, Stroud head coach Josh Presley agreed about the first half and the change of fortunes after intermission “I was really proud of our kids in the first half,” he said. “They played their hearts out. Things got away from us a little bit in the second half and we made some mistakes here and there that cost us.
“As a whole, on the night, I couldn’t be prouder.
“We’re young - we have six sophomores and a freshman out there. We’re going to get better every week. We’re not where we want to be right now, but we’re going to get there.”
Stroud took an early 12-0 lead on two long gainers by Collins.
Quarterback Gideon Smalley dropped a pass into the arms of Collins, who had gotten behind the Chandler secondary and was streaking down the south sideline, with 5:16 left to play in the quarter.
Then Leelyn Neuman picked off a Chandler pass at the Tigers’ five-yard line and returned it to the 42 with 1:08 left in the quarter.
On the next snap, Collins broke through the line and ran 42 yards for his second touchdown.
“He’s The Man and a fantastic kid,” Presley said of Collins. “I couldn’t be prouder of him. I wouldn’t trade him for anyone. He’s a great leader for us.”
Darius Wade got the Lions on the board shortly afterward, going 41 yards on a 2nd-and-20 play.
The point-after failed, making it 12-6 at the end of the period.
Wade had a highlight reel night, carrying the ball 23 times for 227 yards and two touchdowns.
He set up the next score when he recovered a fumble at the Stroud 25-yard-line.
Quarterback Clayton Ritchie paid it off with a fourth-yard touchdown run and Levi Becktol’s extra-point kick was good and gave the Lions a temporary 13-12 lead.
Collins changed that when he took the following kickoff at the five-yard line near the north sideline, cut back to his right and took it to the house with 8:25 left in the first half.
The two-point conversion try failed and the Tigers led, 18-13.
The Tigers had a chance to extend the lead when they recovered an on-side kick at the Chandler 47, but couldn’t convert and had to punt.
Wade put Chandler back ahead shortly after when he broke some tackles at the line of scrimmage and sprinted 47 yards for a score.
The two-point conversion attempt failed and Chandler took a 19-18 lead into halftime.
On the first possession of the second half, Ritchie threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Josiah Tillis and Becktol’s kick made it 26-16.
Landon Massie recovered a fumble at the Tigers’ 33, and Arms ran 15 yards for a score two plays later.
Roanon Wolford set up the next touchdown by recovering an onside kick on the following kickoff. A penalty on Stroud on the play put the Lions in business at the Tigers’ 35.
A few plays later, Arms ran five yards for his second touchdown of the half and Becktol’s kick made it 40-18.
“There were lots of mistakes,” Gray said. “Stroud had a good plan. They make you play disciplined football and attack you where you’re weak.”
The Lions are 2-1 with the win and head to Dickson Friday night to open district play against the 3-0 Comets, who blew out Madill, 68-0, Friday night.
Next up for Stroud, now 1-2, is a road trip to Wilburton to open district play against the Miners, who have won their three games by a combined score of 98-7.