Titans score 42 unanswered points after the first quarter
By Jon Johnson
CHANDLER — In a battle billed as a high-stakes cross-region showdown to wrap up the 2A regular season, the No. 4 Chandler Prep Titans flexed their offensive muscle Friday night, turning a competitive early contest into a dominant 54–13 victory over the No. 9 Pima Roughriders.
“Pima is a great football team,” said Chandler Prep head coach Chris Ator. “One thing we talked about all week was (that) they knew how to win, so we had to come out and execute because we knew they were going to be tough; we knew they were going to be physical.”
While Pima traded blows early behind explosive plays, they ultimately had no answer for Chandler Prep senior quarterback Kody Dodson. The Player of the Game put on a masterclass, carving up the Roughriders’ defense through the air and on the ground. Dodson finished 16-of-21 for 360 yards and 6 touchdowns through the air, while also doing damage with his legs, churning out 63 yards and 2 scores on 8 carries.
“Kody Dodson – he’s a four-year starter for us,” coach Ator said. “He’s kind of showing the kind of football he can play. He protects the football. He can run all over the place – push you downfield. He plays a little defense as well. He’s a once-in-a-lifetime guy you get to coach, and I couldn’t be prouder of him.”
Dodson set the tone early, airing it out to Oliver Rodriguez to cross midfield and capping the opening drive with a 44-yard touchdown strike to put the Titans up 6–0.
Pima wasted no time responding. After Kaden Davis converted a clutch 3rd-and-7, quarterback Cedrick Grimes faked a handoff to Joe Palmer, caught the entire defense leaning, and scampered 66 yards down the sideline to tie the game at 6–6.
The haymakers kept coming into the first quarter. After stellar defensive efforts from Pima’s Joe “Lunchbox” Palmer and Hollen Hoopes, who teamed up to stall the Titans momentarily, Dodson converted a crucial 3rd-and-10 out-pattern to Rodriguez before scrambling 2 yards for a score to reclaim a 12–6 lead with 51 seconds left in the frame.
Blink, and you missed Pima’s counterpunch. On the very next play, all-state track star Adam Bryce broke free for an 80-yard rushing touchdown. With Hayden Wilkins’ extra point, the Roughriders captured a brief 13–12 lead. It would be Pima’s last points as Chandler Prep scored a touchdown on every possession except its last before halftime and put up 42 unanswered points.
“We figured they’d come out and run the ball, and they ran it great,” Ator said. “Our defensive coordinator, Coach Williams, switched some things up, and we started to execute on defense-get a little more physical- and, as you said, 42 unanswered; it was awesome.”
That advantage, however, was short-lived. Dodson and the relentless Titan offense seized control before the break, connecting with Aaron Crawford on an 18-yard score and later finding Ammar Ahmed and Rodriguez again to build a 26–13 halftime cushion. Despite a brilliant effort from Pima’s defense—including an interception by Cedrick Grimes that a controversial pass interference call wiped out—Chandler Prep held firm.
“It was the best football we’ve seen from me,” Kody Dodson said. “This game was eye-opening for all of us, I feel like, and we just want to go make something happen in the playoffs.”
The Titans dominated the second half. Pima struggled to sustain momentum after the break, going three-and-out and giving Chandler Prep short field. Dodson capitalized immediately, leading a quick march that ended with his own touchdown run to stretch the lead to 33–13.
“We knew that they were just going to run every time and we just stuck to the game plan, and it carried us to a win,” Dodson said.
The Titans kept pounding it in the second half. Dodson found Elliot Garone and Ahmed for chunk yardage, then orchestrated a brilliant “Philly Special” trick play for a 2-point conversion, which triggered the mercy-rule running clock. Dodson capped his historic night with a 41-yard touchdown pass to Crawford—his sixth passing score of the evening.
“I love doing that,” Dodson said. “Ever since I was younger, I just love throwing the rock. It’s been a love in my heart.”
Though Pima battled until the final whistle, Jax Haws’s extra-point block offered little consolation as Chandler Prep walked away with a commanding 54–13 win.
With the regular season in the books, Pima will look to regroup for the opening round of the playoffs.
The No. 13 Roughriders will host the No. 20 Heritage Academy Mesa Heroes on Friday, Oct. 30, starting at 7 p.m. If Pima wins, they will get another shot at the No. 4 Chandler Prep Titans on Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m.
Other local prep action:
The Morenci Wildcats (2-2 region, 5-5 overall) defeated the ALA-Anthem South Titans 15-14. The No. 22 Wildcats will next travel to face the No. 11 St. Johns Redskins on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. St. Johns beat Morenci 21-2 in their regular-season meeting on Oct. 16.
The Thatcher Eagles (4-1 region, 7-2 overall) defeated the Sabino Sabercats 37-13. The Eagles will host the Coolidge Bears on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m.
The Safford Bulldogs (1-4 region, 4-4 overall) fell to the Florence Gophers, 0-35. The Bulldogs will host the Sabino Sabercats on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m.
The Willcox Cowboys (3-0 region, 10-0 overall) defeated the Tanque Verde Hawks 34-7. The No.3 Cowboys have a bye in the first round of the state playoffs and will face either No. 19 Cortez or No. 14 Tanque Verde on Friday, Nov. 6, in Willcox.
The No. 12 Duncan Wildkats fell to the No. 5 Mogollon Mustangs, 6-28, in the first round of the 1A State Football Playoffs.
