Jack McKinnie is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication student assigned to cover Ben Franklin High School for AZPreps365.com.

A defensive battle in the first half turned into a one-sided rout in the second as the Benjamin Franklin Chargers defeated the Dysart Demons 27-7 in the first round of the 3A playoffs on Friday. The Chargers will have another home game next week against No. 8 Show Low in the quarterfinals.

Long clock draining drives ending in punts accounted for the entirety of the first quarter before Ben Franklin forced a turnover on downs midway through the second quarter and marched down the field to score on an 18-yard touchdown connection between Gavin Wyler and Talan Speir, their 14th touchdown together this season.

The Demons answered back with a 25-yard touchdown pass to senior Donovan Hinchey. A quick Dysart interception and two runs later, and it was 7-7 going into the locker rooms for halftime. 

This was when Chargers offensive line coach Andy Montańo gave his prediction.

“It will be 31-7,” he said. Confidently too.

And while he may have been wrong, he certainly was not far off.

Benjamin Franklin came roaring out of the break with a touchdown on the opening kickoff, but it was called back for holding. Alas, no worries, a 70-yard touchdown pass to Landon Madsen on the first play of the drive will do.

A quick three and out for the Demons was turned around by an Adam Laborin interception early in the third quarter. Dysart had a promising drive going, but got stalled out and ended up missing a 25-yard field goal.

The teams would share punts before the Chargers added some insurance on a Carson Stetka rushing touchdown, which would be followed by another Stetka rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter to put the game away. 

Ben Franklin coach Danny Norris liked how his guys responded after the first half.

"They got after our guys a little bit, but we stayed calm, we were cool, we were collected, and we had faith in each other,” he said.

Norris praised his offensive coordinators, Aaron Maleala and Brandon Johnson, for “refocusing” the offense.

Only allowing one touchdown, the Chargers' defense stood strong all game, bending but not breaking, something it has done all year.

The unit has given up 101 in 11 games this season. Defensive coordinator Jeremy Sather likes how his players responded during drives.

“They kept getting first down after first down after first down, and then it would stop," he said.

An Ayden Snower fourth quarter interception, along with a pair of turnovers on downs and three punts, was how the Chargers put the muzzle on the Demons.

Multiple tackles for loss throughout the game by Ashton Goddard, Snower, Ty Sather, and Max Salisbury, and a secondary that had the Dysart passing game in a straight jacket also proved helpful in the near shut out. 

The Chargers face a tough opponent in Show Low next week in the second round. Norris has nothing but respect for Show Low postgame.

“They are an experienced program with a great coaching staff, they play a physical brand of football," he said.