Scottsdale Chaparral scored touchdowns on its first two plays from scrimmage. By the time the Firebirds ran another offensive play, they were ahead 28-0 after two defensive touchdowns.
Thanks for the game, Tempe High.
Chaparral rolled to a 42-0 halftime lead en route to a 57-0 victory against the visiting 4A Buffaloes on Friday night, Sept. 4.
Chaparral was supposed to play rival Scottsdale Saguaro, but the depleted Sabercats canceled after getting banged up in the 62-0 season-opening loss to Scottsdale Desert Mountain.
With Phoenix Carl Hayden canceling its game against Tempe for similar reasons, the Buffaloes filled in for Saguaro against Chaparral.
Both teams were coming off wins last week, but this was 4A against 5A and the disparity in talent,
size and numbers showed.
"I have the most respect for them," Chaparral coach Trace Carroll said of Tempe. "Obviously, it was an unfortunate situation that happened in the beginning of the week. Very unprecedented. I'm a second-year head coach and I tried to call a couple of coaches. I've never been through anything like this. It was a crazy, hectic six hours, trying to figure out something. But kudos to them coming over to play us."
Chaparral dominated on offense, defense, special teams. Every which way, it was all Firebirds.
It starts on offense with quarterback Ryan Trocki and tailback Jayce Wilson, two of the better players in the state at any level.
After Tempe was stopped on its first possession at its 28, Trocki found Wilson open for a touchdown.
Tempe (1-1) got to the Firebirds' 46 before the drive was stalled the next time it had the ball. Then, Wilson ran 54 yards up the middle for a touchdown. It was suddenly 14-0.
"I was saying, 'The first time I touch the ball I'm going to score,' " Wilson said.
Then, it was the defense's turn to score. Twice.
Defensive end Kruger Parker intercepted a tipped pass by Jaleel West at the line of scrimmage and ran 20 yards for a touchdown. On Tempe's next possession, West was sacked and fumbled in the end zone. Dax Janson fell on the ball for a Chaparral touchdown.
Finally, Trocki got to run another play with 8:02 left in the half. A drive that started on Chaparral's 11 ended on Tempe's 17 after he was intercepted.
Tempe turned it over on a fumbled snap, and Wilson was in the end zone on a 34-yard run to make it 35-0 with 6:15 left in the half.
Trocki turned into a running clock late with 3:44 to play in the half with his 12-yard scoring pass to Jax Breslo, who missed last season with an injury.
"We just have to have perfect passes," Trocki said. "Just being the best version of ourselves."
Trocki and Wilson were spectators in the second half, as subs continued to dominate with the running clock.
"It's mostly have good chemistry with my guys," Trocki said. "Last year, we had a lot of guys injured. We built chemistry in the offseason."
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. Catch the best high school sports coverage in the state. Sign up for Azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don't miss a thing. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Chaparral football rolls past Tempe behind QB Trocki, RB Wilson
