December 6 - 19, 2014
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Chandler defeats Hamilton in Div. I state football championship BY SETH COX
For the first time in 65 years, the Chandler High School Wolves claimed a state football championship, with an emphatic 28-7 win over intra-city rival Hamilton High School in the Division I title game on Nov. 28. Even though Chandler’s offense was the big story heading into the 2014 season, it was the Wolves’ defense that came through time and time again, says Chandler Head Coach Shaun Aguano. “I thought our defense won all of our games for us,” Aguano says. “Our defense is the one that got us here and won the state championship.” Played in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, the game began slowly with both teams trading turnovers. Chandler’s special teams muffed a punt that was recovered by Hamilton’s Rico Tipton at the Chandler 14-yard line, but Chandler got it right back as defensive lineman Kalif Roberts sacked Hamilton quarterback James Sosinski, causing a fumble that Chandler recovered. From there, Chandler’s offense found its groove, as quarterback Bryce Perkins showed his magic, marching the Wolves 66 yards down the field. Perkins capped the drive with a 21-yard touchdown run
CHAMPIONS: The Chandler Wolves celebrate after the school’s victory over Hamilton in the Division I title game. Photo courtesy Chandler Unified School District.
to put Chandler on the board first, 7-0. Hamilton generated a long drive of its own, as Sosinski found Ari Johnson on third and 19 for a 27-yard catch and run on a screen pass, before delivering a perfect strike to Kyeler Burke to get Hamilton to the 9 yard line. Another Sosinski turnover, however, halted Hamilton’s drive.
This led to Chandler’s 98-yard, 10-minute drive, capped by a Perkins to Micah Reed-Campos touchdown pass for a 13-0 lead. In that drive, Perkins made several big-time throws, including a third and 16 conversion to N’Keal Harry and a third and nine conversion to Justin Jan to keep the drive alive. Hamilton tried to cut the 13-0 margin,
but missed a long field goal before halftime. The second half opened with an efficient 63-yard scoring drive by Hamilton, as Sosinski, Ari Johnson and Ernesto Mauricio took turns rushing the football. On third and nine from the 12 yard line, Hamilton ran its option to the left, but Brandon Krcilek sprinted from his wide receiver position to gather the pitch from Sosinski on a reverse and ran for Hamilton’s first touchdown, trimming the score to 13-7. Hamilton’s opportunistic defense then forced its own turnover as Kyeler Burke intercepted a Perkins pass, giving the ball back to Hamilton at its one-yard line. Hamilton then leaned on its rushing attack as Sosinski, Johnson, Rashad Williams and Rico Tipton sparked the Huskies offense, driving to Chandler’s 34 yard line. The game would change dramatically from there. On fourth and one, Hamilton Head Coach Steve Belles elected to go for it. The Huskies handed the ball to their workhorse, Johnson, but Chandler was ready and the Wolves’ defensive line forced Johnson to bounce the run outside. With a clutch tackle, Jaray Mills SEE CHAMPIONSHIP PAGE 6
‘Tis the season to help one another
Chandler eyesore comes tumbling down
BY TRACY HOUSE
BY CURT BLAKENEY
The holidays are filled with the bustle of shopping, cooking and merriment. But for some, the holidays are stressful because they can’t provide meals or presents for their family members and children. In Chandler, there are opportunities for the community, businesses, organizations and individuals to share a little holiday spirit with those who may be struggling this season. Many nonprofits in the community work together to share lists and meet the needs of those who reach out for help. “For Our City” coordinates registrations so that there are no duplicates and all families who need help can receive aid throughout the season. For more information about holiday drives in Chandler, visit www.forourcity.org/ Holiday_Drives_2014.
The concrete skeleton that cut into the Chandler skyline for close to a decade was a hulking reminder of the real estate excesses of the mid 2000s. On Thursday, Nov. 20, Elevation Chandler—the underfunded real estate project near Chandler Fashion Center—came tumbling down to the cheers of politicians, business leaders, community residents and gawkers, some toting infants and pets. The conquering hero was Chris Anderson, the managing director for Hines, a Houston-based real estate development company placed in charge of the bold mixed-use project that will add luxury apartments, a hotel, offices and retail space to the property. City bigwigs took turns donning hard hats to get close-up photos with the Cat 385CL Hydraulic Excavator brought in to raze the industrial blot on the landscape. Afterward, the 92ton excavator from local demolition company BCS Enterprises disassembled six stories and 135,000 square feet of concrete from the valuable real estate to clear room for the new Chandler Viridian project. The entire cleanup, which includes hauling off 3,500 cubic yards of concrete rubble—roughly 350 fully loaded dump trucks—from
LENDING A HAND: Jen Mapes, left, and Jodine De Laveaga, foreground, help a client at Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank. STSN photo by Kimberly Carrillo
Matthew’s Crossing Throughout the holiday season, Matthew’s Crossing offers numerous opportunities to get involved and make the winter holidays special for SEE HOLIDAY HELP PAGE 8
SEE ELEVATION CHANDLER CLEANUP PAGE 5
F E AT U R E STO R I E S Tax credits fund many student programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COMMUNITY . . . . . . . . . . Page 6 Snap Fitness offers friendly atmosphere, 24/7 access . . . . . . BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 16 Autism center opens Chandler location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . YOUTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 27 Fiesta Mexicana introduces itself to Chandler . . . . . . . . . . . . . NEIGHBORS . . . . . . . . . . Page 49 Three Dog Night concentrates on the hits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 61
SanTan Family Fun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Center Section
More Community . . . . . . .1-15 Business . . . . . . . .16-26 Youth. . . . . . . . . . 27-34 Opinion. . . . . . . . 47-48 Neighbors. . . . . . 49-56 Spirituality . . . . . 57-60 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . .61-70 Directory . . . . . . .71-72 Classifieds. . . . . . .73-74 Where to eat . . . 75-78