Hayley Brown is an ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Chandler High School for AZPreps365.com

CHANDLER – The Chandler Wolves won their third straight game Thursday night, 49-10, over the Sandra Day O’Connor Eagles behind a six-touchdown performance by quarterback Will Mencl.   

Mencl completed 27 passes for 430 yards. He also ran for 52 yards.

“His preparation throughout the week continues to make him what he is, and that’s why I think he’s one of the best in the country,” Chandler coach Ty Wisdom said. “He’s taking what the defense gives him and he’s a threat running the ball, too.”

Three different receivers caught touchdown passes, including senior wide receiver Skyler Ormita, who recorded 10 catches for 190 yards and three touchdowns.

Junior wide receiver Jai Jones caught six passes for 109 yards and one touchdown, while junior wide receiver Maxwell Sprott caught four passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns.

“We played a great game up front,” Mencl said. “We had zero sacks. It’s easy making plays when you have receivers who make my job easy.”

The defense for the Wolves continues to look dominant, forcing four punts from the Eagles’ offense and creating three turnovers including two fumble recoveries and one interception.

“We had a couple hiccups on special teams, but I thought, other than that, all three phases played really well,” Wisdom said, “I thought we tackled pretty well; good teams are bend but don’t break defenses.”

O’Connor’s offense found some life at the end of the first quarter when a 72-yard drive resulted in a 60-yard touchdown run from Jeremy Adeyanju, their leading rusher on the season.

On the following drive, sophomore wide receiver Braylon Lopez returned Chandler’s kickoff 83 yards from the back of the end zone to the Chandler 17-yard line, setting up a field goal to make the game 20-10.

Despite the Eagles’ efforts to keep the game close, the Wolves responded with a touchdown from Mencl to Ormita for 10 yards to make the game 28-10 with 6:22 left in the first half.

The Eagles’ offense put together a 13-play, 80-yard drive in response, but the Chandler defense caused a fumble recovery on the 6-yard line to give the ball back to Mencl and the Wolves’ offense.

The Wolves followed up that sequence with a 68-yard touchdown pass from Mencl to Ormita to take a 35-10 lead into halftime.

The second half proved to be more of the same for both teams. O’Connor punted twice before Chandler senior defensive back Hamisi Juma intercepted a pass from quarterback Carson Craig on the 4-yard line.

Chandler finished the game offensively with a 48-yard touchdown pass from Mencl to junior wide receiver Maxwell Sprott to make the game 49-10 with 9:15 left in the fourth quarter.

Chandler’s defense sealed the win with a fumble recovery by junior defensive lineman Demario Martinez on the 45-yard line.

“I’m proud of our team for fighting through adversity,” coach Ben Kullos said. “We’ve got a kid who started the year at receiver playing quarterback right now. Little mistakes throughout the game, I was telling the boys, cracks turn into canyons against good football teams, and this is a good football team.”

Craig completed 11 passes for 108 yards and had one interception.

Chandler (4-1, 0-0) has a bye week next week but will travel to Perry at 7 p.m. on Oct. 10. O’Connor (1-4, 0-0) will host Centennial next Friday at 7 p.m.