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Chandler quarterback Will Mencl buried his previous game at Peoria Centennial deep in his memory bank. That was two years ago, with another team, a lopsided loss that ended his freshman season.
This time, Mencl picked himself and his Chandler teammates up every time Centennial made a big play to tie the game, leading the Wolves to a 24-17 victory to start the Ty Wisdom coaching era on Friday, Aug. 29.
After Jai Jones' long TD catch from Mencl was wiped out by a holding penalty in the final minute, Mencl collected himself and found Maxwell Sprott down the middle of the field wide open for a 30-yard touchdown with 22 seconds left to break a 17-17 tie.
Sophomore quarterback Titus Jones, erratic much of the game in his first varsity start, made a tremendous play when it mattered most for Centennial. On fourth-and-5, he found Carter Reidy with a sharp pass on a post pattern, beating the secondary for a 58-yard scoring play with 2:31 to play that tied it at 17.
Mencl and his offense weren't worried. They love Wisdom's spread offense that at times comes with empty sets and four receivers spread out wide. He picked his spots, finding receivers, and took off for plays that quickly got Chandler within striking distance in the final minute.
"It's called 'fire drill,' "Mencl said. "We go as fast as we can down the field. It's nothing new. We do that every day. It's just preparation."
On the pass to Sprott, Mencl saw man coverage and knew he could beat his man.
"I trust my guy," Mencl said.
Mencl was a freshman on Scottsdale Saguaro's varsity football team two years ago, making his first start midway through the season with the QB room decimated by injuries. He threw a TD pass and had a pass intercepted and returned for a touchdown in a loss to the Coyotes. He ended up leaving the game early with an injury, ending his season.
He transferred to Chandler before his sophomore year and shared series for the first half of the season, before emerging as the fulltime starter. But an injury late in the second half of the season against Basha, a game the Wolves were in before he got hurt, ended his sophomore season.
"I try not to look too much on the past," Mencl said. "I'm focused on this year with Week 1. Now we move on to Week 2."
This was big for Mencl to start his junior season on such a high note, showing he can lead his team to victory with a late drive.
"We're never going to give up, no matter what the score is," Mencl said. "We bounced back. We had some self-inflicted wounds. But you get better and we move on."
Wisdom knows there is much to clean up but he liked how his sideline responded during adversity, after Centennial kept responding. A 51-yard field goal that would have been good from 60 by Jeremiah "Chango" Harvey as the first half ended got Centennial even at 10-10.
A blocked punt that gave Chandler the ball at the Centennial 4-yard-line turned into a TD pass from Mencl to Jones to give the Wolves a 17-10 lead with 25 seconds left in the third quarter.
Chandler's offense was moving so fast that at times the officials were slow to spot the ball. But the Wolves overcame penalties and any fatigue to get the win.
"Those were things we needed to find out," said Wisdom, who won a Nebraska championship last year, leading Millard South. "When stuff hits the fan, how are we going to respond? I was proud of the guys for that."
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University athletics and the Arizona Rattlers. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: QB Will Mencl leads Chandler late to beat Centennial
Continue reading...
This time, Mencl picked himself and his Chandler teammates up every time Centennial made a big play to tie the game, leading the Wolves to a 24-17 victory to start the Ty Wisdom coaching era on Friday, Aug. 29.
After Jai Jones' long TD catch from Mencl was wiped out by a holding penalty in the final minute, Mencl collected himself and found Maxwell Sprott down the middle of the field wide open for a 30-yard touchdown with 22 seconds left to break a 17-17 tie.
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Sophomore quarterback Titus Jones, erratic much of the game in his first varsity start, made a tremendous play when it mattered most for Centennial. On fourth-and-5, he found Carter Reidy with a sharp pass on a post pattern, beating the secondary for a 58-yard scoring play with 2:31 to play that tied it at 17.
Mencl and his offense weren't worried. They love Wisdom's spread offense that at times comes with empty sets and four receivers spread out wide. He picked his spots, finding receivers, and took off for plays that quickly got Chandler within striking distance in the final minute.
"It's called 'fire drill,' "Mencl said. "We go as fast as we can down the field. It's nothing new. We do that every day. It's just preparation."
On the pass to Sprott, Mencl saw man coverage and knew he could beat his man.
"I trust my guy," Mencl said.
Mencl was a freshman on Scottsdale Saguaro's varsity football team two years ago, making his first start midway through the season with the QB room decimated by injuries. He threw a TD pass and had a pass intercepted and returned for a touchdown in a loss to the Coyotes. He ended up leaving the game early with an injury, ending his season.
He transferred to Chandler before his sophomore year and shared series for the first half of the season, before emerging as the fulltime starter. But an injury late in the second half of the season against Basha, a game the Wolves were in before he got hurt, ended his sophomore season.
"I try not to look too much on the past," Mencl said. "I'm focused on this year with Week 1. Now we move on to Week 2."
This was big for Mencl to start his junior season on such a high note, showing he can lead his team to victory with a late drive.
"We're never going to give up, no matter what the score is," Mencl said. "We bounced back. We had some self-inflicted wounds. But you get better and we move on."
Wisdom knows there is much to clean up but he liked how his sideline responded during adversity, after Centennial kept responding. A 51-yard field goal that would have been good from 60 by Jeremiah "Chango" Harvey as the first half ended got Centennial even at 10-10.
A blocked punt that gave Chandler the ball at the Centennial 4-yard-line turned into a TD pass from Mencl to Jones to give the Wolves a 17-10 lead with 25 seconds left in the third quarter.
Chandler's offense was moving so fast that at times the officials were slow to spot the ball. But the Wolves overcame penalties and any fatigue to get the win.
"Those were things we needed to find out," said Wisdom, who won a Nebraska championship last year, leading Millard South. "When stuff hits the fan, how are we going to respond? I was proud of the guys for that."
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University athletics and the Arizona Rattlers. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: QB Will Mencl leads Chandler late to beat Centennial
Continue reading...
