Unlikely heroes lead Chandler to OT win
Drake Anderson didn't have a junior season. Billy Bolger figured to play backup his entire senior season.
But it was Anderson and Bolger who combined to pull out top-ranked Chandler's 35-28 overtime victory over host and No. 4 Phoenix Pinnacle on Friday night in a 6A football showdown.
Bolger, filling in at quarterback for injured junior Jacob Conover, threw four of his five touchdown passes to Anderson, a running back, who juked defenders on his way for a 9-yard score on the second play of overtime.
It looked like it was headed for a second OT after Spencer Rattler found wide receiver Hayden Hatten in the clear. Hatten extended the football with his right hand toward the end zone. But he was hit had and fumbled just before clearing the goal line and sophomore linebacker Bryant Jackson recovered in the end zone, ending the game.
"Sometimes it's good to be lucky," Chandler coach Shaun Aguano said.
It set off a celebration on the field by Chandler (2-1), which came into the game without one of the top quarterbacks in the state after Conover suffered a sprained shoulder late in the second half of last Saturday's 27-14 loss to No. 2 nationally ranked Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy.
Chandler then lost one of the top wide receivers in the state early in the third quarter when senior Gunner Romney, a BYU commit, pulled up with an apparent hamstring injury.
Chandler also lost two linebackers and a safety to injuries in the game, leaving the defense vulnerable, especially against the run, in the final quarter when Pinnacle (2-1) rallied from a 28-14 deficit on scoring runs of 42 and 32 yards by Amelec Juntunen.
Standout performer
Anderson missed all of his junior season after having surgery on both of his hips. He had the best game of his life, scoring on 53-yard pass on Chandler's first possession of the game. He also scored on a 6-yard pass play and a 12-yard pass, before scoring the winning TD in overtime. His best play of the game – a 25-yard rushing TD – was called back on a blind-side block, a new National Federation rule put in. Anderson was trapped on one side of the field, reversed field, cut back again and found a huge hole. But the block wiped it out in the final quarter.
"I feel like I'm 110 percent, really good," Anderson said. "We've been working for this and we were ready."
More standouts
Bolger played well in the second half against IMG Academy, which got him ready for the first start of his varsity career. He threw for 130 yards in the first half, and found backup receiver Dylan Fernandez for a 25-yard score that put Chandler up 28-14 in the fourth quarter.
Cornerback Bryce Jackson ended a Pinnacle drive late in the first half with an interception in the end zone, keeping Chandler ahead 14-7.
Star watch
Chandler sophomore Gunner Maldonado showed glimpses of what he can do. He returned a 90-yard kickoff for a touchdown, but it was called back by a holding penalty.
Quotes
"Obviously, losing Gunner is a hit to our offense, but we had other players step up and make plays. Dylan Fernandez made that great catch in the end zone," Bolger said.
"I'm so proud of Billy," Aguano said. "We lost six guys. They're on the sidelines. I'm proud of our guys to step up. And again, to get lucky at the end."
Key stats
Drake Anderson had more than 200 yards total offense and Bolger threw for more than 300 yards.
Up next
Chandler hosts Phoenix Mountain Pointe next Friday in a rematch of the 6A championship game. Pinnacle hosts Peoria Centennial on Thursday.