Jalen Weathers is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism Student assigned to cover Chandler High School for AZPreps365.com

“I’m like that,” Justice Spann screamed back on the sidelines right after scoring to give Chandler the lead, 24-15, with 2:31 left remaining in the fourth quarter. He was left wide open on an over route, and Spann made Highland’s defense pay.

Chandler, the No. 1 team in the state, hosted No. 10 Highland High School on Friday. It was a tough battle down to the wire, but Chandler persevered to remain undefeated with a 24-22 victory.

“(Spann) is a really good player,” Chandler coach Rick Garretson said. “I know somebody’s going to come his way with offers down the road. He’s 6-2, 200 pounds, can block and you see what he can do when he has the ball in his hands.”

Highland got after Chandler early in the game, punting a ball that ended up on Chandler’s 1-yard line. The Hawks defense took full advantage of this field position, forcing a safety on the next play, giving Highland a 2-0 lead with 3:30 left in the first quarter.

Chandler then kicked the ball off to their returner, Elijah Denson, who ran it to Highland’s 48-yard line. With five runs shared between runningbacks Kody Cullimore and Jay Martin, the Hawks went on to score. Cullimore ran it in from the 4-yard line, making it 8-0. Highland tried to score a 2-point conversion, but Chandler’s defense held on to keep it a one-score game.

The Wolves offense had a slow start, not scoring until the second quarter when they marched down to the 12-yard line and then had to settle for a field goal. 

With 5:33 left in the second quarter, Chandler got all the way down to the 8-yard line, but couldn’t score, turning the ball over on downs. Moments later, defensive back Jojo Taylor III intercepted a corner route and returned it for a touchdown, Chandler’s first of the night. 

“I knew defensively we had to get a stop because our offense was struggling,” Taylor said. “That’s what I like most about our team, when defense is struggling offense picks us up, when offense if struggling we pick them up.”

Chandler’s offense went back on the field to get a 2-point conversion rather than an extra point to make it 11-8 with 4:40 to go in the second quarter.  

Highland didn’t waste any time taking the lead right back though, scoring on another touchdown run from Cullimore, which gave the Hawks a 15-11 halftime lead.

After Chandler muscled Highland into punting the ball during the middle of the third quarter, they found a way to add another field goal making the game 15-14, which is how the third quarter ended.

Chandler quarterback Blake Heffron found a rhythm late in the fourth quarter, making some astounding passes to junior wide receiver Carter Ochoa and other receivers. Although they had a great drive, the Hawks still held them to a field goal, giving Chandler a 17-15 lead with 5:11 remaining.

On the ensuing kickoff, Cullimore returned it for 28 yards, giving the Hawks the ball on their own 30-yard line. However, the Wolves defense forced them to turn the ball over on downs, giving Chandler the ball on the Hawks’ 37-yard line with only 2:46 to go. On the next play, Heffron found Spann to score a 37-yard touchdown with 2:31 left.

Although the Hawks were trailing 24-15, they still had hope. Cullimore found a way to spark the Hawks’ comeback, returning the kickoff to their own 45-yard line. This gave Highland all the motivation they needed to get the ball back in their end zone. Junior quarterback Kalen Fisher found a way to deliver his passes right to his receivers. His final throw was a 4-yard TD pass to Cullimore, who ended the night with three touchdowns.

With only 56 seconds remaining, Highland decided to try an onsides kick. Chandler recovered the ball though, preserving their fifth win of the season.

Heffron finished the night with 191 passing yards, with 69 of those yards credited to Spann.

“It felt good, but you have to act like you’ve done it before,” Spann said. “Great homecoming win, but 8 a.m. tomorrow morning we’re back on the grind.

Chandler (5-0, 4-0) will host Casteel (4-1, 3-0) at 7 p.m. Friday. Highland (3-2, 2-1) will host Red Mountain (4-1, 4-0) at 7 p.m. Friday.