A large crowd showed up for Friday’s homecoming game between Champion and Kyle Lehman and the Chargers sent the fans home happy after recording a 37-14 win over the Lobos.
Champion snaps its five-game skid in District 12-5A DI and picks up its first win in league play. The Chargers are 3-6 overall and 1-0 in district. They visit San Antonio on Friday to take on MacArthur at Heroes Stadium to close out the 2022 season.
Chargers Coach Keith Kaiser said the team played well in its final home game of the year.
“I appreciated the kids’ energy and excitement coming into the game,” he said.
Champion took a 21-0 lead into halftime thanks to the arm and legs of Jordan Ballin, who threw for three touchdowns.
Ballin hit Kannon Brooks in the middle of the first quarter to make it 7-0, and then in the second, Ballin connected with Cameron Logan after Ballin broke out of the pocket and extend the play with his scrambling ability.
Logan shook loose from the defender on the play and hauled in the 31-yard pass to make it 14-0.
“(Ballin) creates and we haven’t been able to do that in few weeks, I was happy for him,” Kaiser said.
Late in the second quarter, Ballin tossed another touchdown pass to Chase Riha and the Chargers took a 21-0 lead into the break after Quinn Wieland connected on his third extra point.
Sawyer Bolli and Evan Kuhl both came up with interceptions in that first half to help the defense keep the Lobos off the board.
In the third quarter, a bad snap on a punt attempt by Lehman resulted in a safety and two points for the Chargers to make it 23-0.
Later in the period, Ballin tossed his fourth TD of the night, this time to Kaleb Krause on a 4th and 6 and the lead swelled to 30-0.
Lehman made it interesting and scored on its next two possessions to slice the lead to 30-14, but a Lobos onside kick was recovered by Champion and Colin Ryan made them pay just five plays later.
Ryan busted through the Lehman defense and took it to the house on a 27-yard sprint and it was 37-14 with 3:48 left after the Wieland PAT, which is where it stayed.
On the last play of the game, Anthony Ortiz appeared to score for the Chargers on a 35-yard run but it was wiped off the board by a holding call, one of three scores that were negated by Champion penalties.
“We reverted back to our old ways where we were our own worst enemy at times,” Kaiser said. “That game should have got out of hand a lot quicker, but a win is a win, and we’ll take it.”
Kaiser said he expects the team to close out the year with a good game against MacArthur on Friday.
“I know playoffs aren’t an option but we’re going to go to work and treat this last game as if it’s our biggest game of the season,” Kaiser said. “I know they’re going to work hard and get after it. I want these seniors to leave a footprint and go out strong.”
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