By Zach Alvira
Head of Content
Highland and Chandler were locked in yet another close battle Friday night heading into the fourth quarter.
Tied at 14, the game was trending in the same direction as the previous three meetings between the two 6A juggernauts, where the average margin of victory was just over three points. Defense reigns supreme when the Hawks and Wolves meet.
And while Friday night’s matchup saw the emergence of a future star at running back, it was a fourth-quarter pick-six by Highland defensive end Logan Bonham that proved to be the difference in the Hawks’ 20-14 win over Chandler.
“I stood up, saw the ball and then I caught it … I was shocked,” Bonham said. “Very surprised. It’s the first time that ever happened to me. It was a dream though.”
The first half appeared to be all Highland from the start.
The Hawks were methodical on offense, using a variety of inside run plays to wear down the Chandler front seven. Without Kash Allen due to injury, the Hawks turned to sophomore Kruz Cullimore to lead the backfield. Despite his young age, Cullimore is familiar with the Highland offense.
He was first exposed to it in 2017, head coach Brock Farrel’s first season. Kohner Cullimore was a star linebacker and running back for the Hawks. He was part of the 2018 team that took Chandler to overtime in the 6A semifinals.
Then came Kam Cullimore, followed by Kash and Kody. They’re all brothers and cousins who dramatically impacted the Highland football program. Friday night was the first chance Kruz got to do the same.
He’s the youngest of the bunch, but had perhaps one of the best debuts.
“It feels great, my O-line balled out,” Kruz said. “I can’t say it enough. They did so good. They opened holes for me.”
Kruz rushed for 178 yards and a touchdown in his first varsity start. His speed and elusiveness allowed him to hit cut back lanes opened up by Highland’s offensive line. The first half he managed to gouge the Chandler defense, burning clock and converting on multiple second and third-down runs.
The Hawks second drive of the game was led by Kruz. He was given the ball four straight plays, earning positive yards each time. He got a short break before cashing in on his only touchdown. At the time, it put Highland up by two touchdowns — Grady Crandall capped off the Hawks’ first offensive possession with a 5-yard run.
But when the mentee is playing the mentor, no less is safe. At least, not in Farrel’s eyes.
“When you play your friends, you want to win and you try your best,” said Farrel, who was an assistant on the Chandler staff when he first moved to Arizona. “There’s still coaches on that staff that were there when I was there. I truly love those guys.”
Highland’s defense was firing on all cylinders in the first half. They rendered the Chandler offense helpless, as the Wolves failed to move the ball on consecutive drives.
The Hawks were in position to go up by three scores late in the second quarter. But Chandler’s defense got a second wind.
Highland running back Peyton Gill was stripped on an outside run play. Chandler corner Hamisi Juma was there to scoop it up and take it 70 yards to out the Wolves on the board. The momentum carried over to the second half, as the Chandler defense forced Highland to punt out of the break.
The Wolves then did what they do best: control the pace and gouge teams up and down the field.
Mencl found holes in the Highland secondary. Chandler’s offensive line moved the line of scrimmage, opening up holes for Tristan Halsana.
The Wolves moved down the field with ease, tying the game on a Halsana 12-yard touchdown run. They had other opportunities down the stretch, but Bonham’s interception coupled with coming up short on fourth down took the wind out of Chandler’s sails.
Highland sealed it with three first downs.
“Our defense is very good and I’m very grateful for our linebackers and safeties,” Bonham said. “They have a great team. That was one of the best offensive lines I’ve faced.”
After a quiet first half, in which Chandler had 70 yards total as a team, Mencl finished with 93 yards through the air while Halsana rushed for 64 and a touchdown.
Highland, meanwhile, had 370 yards as a team. Quarterback Kalen Fisher accounted for 157 of those through the air.
Farrel was proud of his defense’s effort limiting a high-powered Chandler offense.
“I think they played great all night,” Farrel said. “One drive Chandler put it together. Other than that, I think we shut down a really good offense.
“When you make a team earn it, you hold them to enough points where you can find a way to win.”
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