Champion nabs third win ahead of Smithson Valley showdown

The Champion Chargers put the Laredo Alexander Bulldogs on their heels from the very start of Friday’s final non-district contest, scoring on the game’s first play en route to a 25-10 win.

The Chargers ( 3- 0) scored touchdowns on their first possessions of each half. Sophomore quarterback Julian Navarrete hit Lucas Benavides on the first play of the game, a catch-and-run that Benavides took for six and the early 7-0 lead after Nathan Bell’s extra point.

The teams traded second quarter field goals, giving Champion a 10-3 halftime lead.

The Chargers came out strong offensively to start the second half. After the defense forced Laredo to punt on the opening drive, the Champion offense took the field and went on a solid eight-play, 77-yard drive, capped by a Navarrete to Brady Lampkin 3-yard TD pass. The Bell extra point gave Champion a 17-3 lead four minutes into the third quarter.

The Charger defense was next to flex its muscles. After exchanging punts, Laredo marched deep into Champion territory, thanks to a Jose Fernandez 35-yard run. With a second- and- 3 from the 7, Fernandez found the end zone for a touchdown, but Laredo was called for a hold that negated the score.

Quarterback Karlo Tenorio was then sacked, setting up a fourth-and 20. Now in the fourth quarter, Laredo tried for the conversion but Champion’s Hudson Simmons picked Tenorio’s pass at the 5 yard line, ending that drive.

Laredo did not throw in the towel and drove 69 yards in nine plays for a touchdown, a 5-yard Fernandez run, cutting the Charger lead to 17-10 with only 6:19 left in the game.

Champion came out throwing, with Navarrete completing passes to Benavides and two to smith, moving the ball to the Laredo 30. A Navarrete- to-Brogan Dempsey touchdown was called back on an ineligible receiver downfield call. But Navarrete hit Micah Middleton for 29 yards on a third-and-17, and backup quarterback Garland Whitehead ran it in from 6 yards out for the clinching score. Champion then scored two points off a botched extra point hold for the eventual 25-10 final.

The Chargers open District 13-5AD1 Sept. 20 with a road contest at Smithson Valley. The Rangers ( 2- 1), 65- 0 winners on Friday over the Madison Mavericks, beat Champion 49-14 last season en route to a 14-2 record and eventual loss in the Class 5A state finals.