Chandler Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's the month of July and that means it's preview time! Throughout the month of July, we are publishing 100 team previews to get you ready for the 2022 season. This is something that began last year and has become even bigger and better this year. We're looking forward to diving deep into the top teams across the state. From defending champs, to top contenders and dark horses, we'll have complete coverage every single day with new teams from Class 6A down to A. In this post, we take a look at the Chandler Lions. After nearly winning the district championship last year, the Lions want to make another run this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>Chandler Lions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Chandler Lions are once again one of those teams outside of the top ten in Class 2A but you have to keep an eye on them because they can steal a game or two and end up higher in the district than anticipated. The Lions went 8-4 last season and that includes a 2-3 start to the year. They would win their final five games of the regular season and nearly captured the district championship. They beat Crossings Christian by two points but then fell to Jones the following week by a field goal. Falling short of the district title meant a tougher road in the playoffs and they were bounced out in the second round by eventual champion Marlow. Chandler comes into this season with high expectations once again and a lot of it has to do with their star running back that they bring back. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In addition to the running back, the Lions bring back three other starters on the offensive side of the ball. The offense will be inexperienced but talented as they work in a new quarterback. But the running game will be strong once again with one of 2A's best backs returning this fall. On defense, the Lions bring back seven starters, including some very talented linebackers. The defense will be a side of strength for Chandler while the offense comes along and finds their way. The Lions play a tough non-district schedule once again this fall. Like last year, there's a real possibility that Chandler starts out the year 1-2 as they go into district play. However, if Chandler could have a winning record going into week four, they'll have some real momentum. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2021 Results (8-4 Record - Lost In Class 2A 2nd Round)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 3 - Beat Stroud 53-0<br>Sept. 10 - Lost To Bristow 36-26<br>Sept. 17 - Lost To Beggs 42-14<br>Sept. 24 - Beat Crossings Christian 18-16<br>Oct. 1 - Lost To Jones 29-26<br>Oct. 8 - Beat Star Spencer 56-12<br>Oct. 14 - Beat Millwood 24-6<br>Oct. 22 - Beat Meeker 48-16<br>Oct. 29 - Beat Kellyville 48-7<br>Nov. 5 - Beat Prague 47-14<br>1st Round - Beat Perry 41-13<br>2nd Round - Lost To Marlow 38-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Key Losses To Graduation</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Drake Rodriguez - Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>Jarin Greenfield - Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>Kaden Jones - Quarterback</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players To Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='360243' first='Alec' last='Jackson'] - 2024 Quarterback<br></strong>Chandler will have a new quarterback under center this fall as 2024 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='360243' first='Alec' last='Jackson'] takes the reigns of the Lion offense. We mentioned earlier how the Lions were going to be inexperienced but talented on the offensive side of the ball and it all starts with Jackson. This Chandler QB has the chance to have a breakout season and become one of the state's top quarterback prospects in the 2024 class. He's been looking forward to this opportunity and as he gets more comfortable within this offense, he could produce for the Lions in a big way. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='98175' first='Casmen' last='Hill'] - 2023 Running Back<br></strong>One player that will definitely make the transition at quarterback easy is 2023 running back [player_tooltip player_id='98175' first='Casmen' last='Hill']. The Chandler running back comes into this season with just under 5,000 career rushing yards and is a legitimate threat to go for more than 2,000 yards this season. He's one of the more underrated running backs in an absolutely loaded 2023 class. We first saw Hill following his sophomore season and he was incredibly impressive then. He's a big play waiting to happen and when the Lions need a big play, expect it to come from Hill. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>More Names To Know</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brayden Nation - 2023 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>[player_tooltip player_id='144767' first='Carson' last='Clagg'] - 2024 Linebacker<br>[player_tooltip player_id='268342' first='Chaden' last='Sullivan'] - 2024 Offensive Lineman<br>Hunter Robinson - 2025 Linebacker<br>Stefan Mackey - 2023 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>Ty Garver - 2025 Athlete</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2022 Schedule/Games To Circle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 2 - Stroud<br>Sept. 9 - AT Bristow<br>Sept. 16 - Poteau<br>Sept. 23 - AT Kellyville<br>Sept. 30 - Meeker<br>Oct. 7 - AT Bethel<br><strong>Oct. 13 - Crossings Christian<br></strong>- This week begins a big two week stretch for Chandler and really, you can include the week six game on the road against Bethel as well. Chandler will host a Crossings Christian team that captured the district championship last year, despite losing to the Lions head to head. The Lions will be looking to have lightning strike twice and knock off the Knights and this time, put themselves in the driver's seat for the district crown. Crossings returns plenty of players from last year's team but they'll have a few new skill position players as well. <br><strong>Oct. 21 - AT Jones<br></strong>- The week after facing off with Crossings, Chandler will hit the road to take one Jones in week eight. Depending on the results of the previous two games, the Lions could either be in the driver's seat for the district title when they visit Jones or they could be fighting for their playoff lives. They'll look to avoid what happened last year when they beat Crossings and then the following week lost to Jones. The Longhorns will once again have a strong passing game with one of the better quarterbacks in the 2024 class. This will be a great quarterback battle in week eight. <br>Oct. 28 - Star Spencer<br>Nov. 4 - AT Luther</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Notable</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Chandler didn't see much change with the redistricting shuffle, one positive for the Lions is that Marlow moved up to Class 3A. In addition to winning the 2A championship a year ago, the Outlaws have been a thorn in the paw (couldn't resist) of the Lions in the last two seasons. Marlow has eliminated Chandler from the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. That includes a 38-7 defeat last year in the second round. Chandler is a team that came close to capturing the district championship last season and that's the goal for the Lions this year. Not having a Marlow speed bump to run into in the playoffs will also help them this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Championship History</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>2 State Championships</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2005 - Beat Davis 40-7<br>1984 - Beat Chelsea 30-13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->