Chandler football enters third consecutive Open Division semifinals under Garretson
CHANDLER, Ariz. (BVM) 鈥� The Chandler High School football program found itself in uncharted waters following Week 10. The, dubbed 鈥渢he biggest, most anticipated鈥� regular season game in Arizona high school football history, ended in a 21-14 loss for the Wolves at the hands of rival Hamilton.
It was Chandler鈥檚 first loss since head coach Rick Garretson took over ahead of the 2019 season, and the Wolves鈥� first loss to the Huskies since 2013.
The regular season finale gave Chandler two weeks to prepare for its quarterfinal matchup with Queen Creek in the Arizona Open Division Championship last Friday. Although the Wolves trailed 21-14 at the break, they responded with a massive second half, outscoring the Bulldogs 34-7 after halftime to win 48-28.
鈥淭he defense did what it was supposed to do and it went fast, man,鈥� Garretson said of the win over Queen Creek. 鈥淚t went from 21-14 to 28-21 in a microsecond and that鈥檚 Chandler football. I鈥檓 really happy with the offense holding up its end, we鈥檒l work this week and see what happens on Saturday.鈥�
Saturday鈥檚 semifinal matchup with Liberty (9-2) will be the fourth time these programs meet in the last two years, and second time this season. The Sept. 24 meeting had a similar script to Chandler鈥檚 quarterfinal win over Queen Creek. After going into halftime knotted up at 21, the Wolves outscored Liberty 20-0 in the second half to win 41-21 behind 361 passing yards and three touchdowns from senior quarterback Blaine Hipa.
In a matchup of two talented teams very much familiar with each other, Garretson won鈥檛 allow his squad to be over-confident despite handing Liberty its first loss of the season just two months ago.
鈥淥ur kids know they (Liberty) are a good ball club,鈥� Garretson said. 鈥淐oach Colin (Thomas) is a really good coach with a really good staff and his kids play hard. It鈥檚 like anything when you鈥檙e one and done. Last year, we had a 28-7 lead on those guys (Liberty) at halftime and then next thing you know, you鈥檙e going to overtime. You just have to do what you do, keep everything appropriately in line, come out and let the chips fall where they may on a semifinal night.鈥�
If there鈥檚 one thing Garretson has been able to rely on all season, it鈥檚 his defense. That unit has allowed just 13 points per game this season and gave up 20 points just once during the regular season (vs. Liberty).
University of Arizona commit leads the Wolves with 16 tackles for loss while four-star recruit six sacks are a team-high despite missing two games this season.
鈥淥ur defense has played lockdown ball all year long,鈥� Garretson said. 鈥淥ur defense is a physical group, a fast group and they鈥檝e been consistent.鈥�
Garretson chalks much of the success of his defense up to experience, something the Wolves鈥� offense didn鈥檛 have much of heading into the season. With just one returning offensive starter on the field for Chandler鈥檚 season opener, Garretson turned to a handful of inexperienced faces.
https://twitter.com/NPetey10/status/1464438586493706240
Hipa has been at the forefront of the Wolves鈥� new look, completing 68 percent of his passes for 2,436 yards and 27 touchdowns in his first season with the team. The transfer from Hawaii (Campbell High School) has been able to efficiently distribute the ball to talented playmakers like Iowa State commit Quaron Adams (680 yards, six touchdowns), Princeton recruit Nason Coleman (640 yards, nine touchdowns) and Ohio State pledge Kyion Grayes (388 yards, four touchdowns). But Hipa isn鈥檛 the only quarterback Liberty should be preparing for ahead of Saturday night鈥檚 showdown.
Kenneth Cooper Jr., also a senior, was effectively used as Chandler鈥檚 wildcat quarterback in the quarterfinal win over Queen Creek. Nicknamed 鈥淜 Gun,鈥� Cooper Jr. rushed the ball six times for 70 yards and two touchdowns.
https://twitter.com/NPetey10/status/1464448896189407234
Part of the reason for Cooper Jr.鈥檚 career night on the ground is an offensive line that paved the way for 305 rushing yards in last Friday鈥檚 win over Queen Creek.
鈥淥ur offensive line had their best night on Friday against a team that we only scored 21 offensive points against the first time,鈥� Garretson said. 鈥淲e rolled up 500 yards and 48 points on them (the second time). Those kids earned that, they worked for that and we had two weeks of preparation for that.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e only going to go as far as your guys up front; it鈥檚 that simple. I don鈥檛 care what level of football it is.鈥�
Garretson hopes his big guys up front will lead the way to a sixth consecutive state title, and the third straight Open Division Championship under his watch. Chandler is the place to be on Saturday night.
