Chandler completes five-peat behind 鈥榞reatest鈥� senior class in school history
CHANDLER, Ariz. (BVM) 鈥� It鈥檚 never as easy as it looks.
Sure, four consecutive state championships and a 35-game winning streak can make one numb to success, but nothing can be taken for granted during a year such as 2020.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 really know what we all went through unless you were living it,鈥� Rick Garretson, Chandler High School鈥檚 head football coach, said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been extremely difficult for not only us, but all the kids and coaches in Arizona and in the country; it鈥檚 definitely a different world.鈥�
Garretson is, of course, referring to the challenges of navigating a high school football season in the midst of a pandemic. Those challenges were amplified for the Wolves as they played a gauntlet of a schedule in defense of an Arizona Open Division Championship, and in pursuit of their sixth state title in seven years.
Because a student-athlete could easily come in contact with COVID-19 during the school day or something as simple as a walk-thru, Garrettson said he and his staff never knew when someone would be out. The motto 鈥渘ext man up鈥� became Chandler鈥檚 truth, and its experience helped it end the 2020 season as it began: as the best team in Arizona.
The Wolves nearly had their perfect season snatched away in Saturday night鈥檚 Arizona Open Division Championship. Up 23-21 late in the final quarter, Chandler watched Hamilton, ranked No. 28 in the country, march down the field and line up for a game-winning kick with 13 seconds left.
When the 27-yard field goal attempt missed wide left, the Wolves celebrated their fifth consecutive Arizona high school football championship and extended their winning streak to 36 games.
Chandler senior quarterback Mikey Keene, who is committed to the University of Central Florida, finished his high school career with a perfect 23-0 record as a starter.
鈥淓specially with this year in 2020, just to be able to play football is a blessing right now,鈥�. 鈥淲e wanted to go out with a bang and leave our legacy. We talked about being legendary before the game and that鈥檚 exactly what we wanted to do.鈥�
鈥淭hat鈥檚 six鈥� –
— Ralph Amsden (@ralphamsden)
Keene, who threw for 2,069 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2020, anchored a special senior class that may go down as the best in school history. Fellow seniors Eli Sanders (1,240 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns) and Jalen Richmond (634 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns) led an explosive offense that averaged 41.2 points.
Oregon commit Brandon Buckner, Hank Pepper, Kyler Orr and Jeremiah Tyler were cornerstones of a defense that came up with 32.5 sacks, 68 tackles for loss and forced 23 turnovers.
All in all, 14 players in the Wolves鈥� 2021 class have committed to a four-year college. Outside of Chandler鈥檚 2019 class led by Jacob Conover, who led the Wolves to three consecutive 6A championships, Garretson believes this senior class is the best to ever do it.
鈥淭heir four years here, they鈥檝e won four rings; that鈥檚 incredible,鈥� Garretson said. 鈥淭hey are probably the greatest senior class that鈥檚 come through this school. Just to be able to endure the physicality and the mental discipline that you need to end up winning the whole thing is hats off to our boys and that senior class that led it.鈥�
Chandler football has a very particular recipe to success, and it includes some time apart after such a grueling season that began back in June. Although it will be difficult to say goodbye to and replace such a legendary group, the process will begin soon enough.
The Wolves return junior wideout Kyion Grayes (556 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns) who from the University of Arizona. Garretson and company will also welcome back tight end who suffered a season-ending injury in camp and holds offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Iowa State, Utah and others.
Garretson hopes Chandler and schools across the country will be afforded a typical spring and summer session in 2021, but the goal and approach remains the same.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the beauty of coaching high school football,鈥� Garretson said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking to see who wants to be the next man up.鈥�
