By: Fabian Ardaya
It was a big day for Chandler sports last Friday, as the No. 2 Chandler Wolves beat the No. 1 Hamilton Huskies 28-7 to win their first state championship since 1949. CTR had a camera on the field, allowing us to show you some to the best moments of the game from University of Phoenix stadium, in GIF form:
Setting the Stage
Hamilton had all the experience going into University of Phoenix Stadium, having played in each of the last seven state title games. Chandler, on the other hand, felt confident after a 56-24 drubbing of Hamilton earlier in the year.
The Golden Ball
The prize given to the night’s victor, and the trophy that has eluded Chandler since 1949. Hamilton has seven sitting in their trophy room at 3500 S. Arizona Ave.
Chandler takes the field
/
Could the Wolves step things up on the biggest stage?
Hamilton runs through the tunnel
Can Hamilton rebound after their 2013 state title game loss?
Chandler gets the ball back
After Terrell Flanigan’s muffed punt gave Hamilton the ball in the red zone early on, Chandler’s defense came up with the big stop after defensive end Kaliff Roberts forced the James Sosinski fumble.
Perkins dances his way into the lead
After coming up with the stop, Chandler drove its way down the field before capitalizing on a touchdown run by senior quarterback Bryce Perkins to take the 7-0 lead.
Chandler comes up with another red zone stop
As Sosinski engineered another solid Huskies drive, Chandler came up big again as Roberts forced another fumble at the one-yard line, recovered by senior defensive back Jaray Mills.
MRC extends the lead
Surprise star of the night Micah Reed-Campos snuck out of the backfield, taking the swing pass from Perkins and going into the end zone untouched to give Chandler the 13-0 lead.
Hamilton starts the comeback
You don’t go to seven straight titles and just quit. Hamilton got their way back into the game, as senior wide receiver Brandon Krcilek took the reverse pitch for the score to cut the lead to 13-7 early in the second half.
Rumbling, bumbling, stumbling to extend the lead
There was nothing keeping Perkins from the end zone, taking on four different Hamilton defenders en route to diving across the goal line as he flew to a 21-7 lead.
Kyree Woods gets his redemption
Kyree Woods faced adversity throughout this one, as despite having a solid overall game he had given Hamilton two crucial first downs on a defensive holding and pass interference penalty. He made up for it though, forcing a third red zone turnover for Hamilton as he picked off Sosinski in the end zone.
Signed, sealed, delivered a championship.
Reed-Campos was at it again, sealing Chandler’s win by bouncing this run to the outside in the closing minutes of the 28-7 win.
“We did it!”
In the words of junior running back Chase Lucas, “We did it.” For the first time in 65 years, Chandler High School is the home to a football state championship.
That moment when you realize you just won your first state title since 1949
Chandler coach Shaun Aguano was a little excited to win his first title, to say the least.
Raising the Golden Ball
The Golden Ball’s new home: 350 N. Arizona Ave.
