Saturday night’s Open Division State Championship rematch between the Chandler Wolves and Basha Bears certainly lived up to the hype.
Dare I say, it exceeded the hype. Last December the game ended with a 34-7 Basha Bears win. This time around it was a back-and-forth battle beginning to end with the ultimate showcase of Arizona talent on a national scale.
17 of the top 45 players in the state of Arizona were on the field to open the season.
Maxwell Sprott was a standout playmaker for the Wolves all night. The Sacramento State commit had 10 catches for 175 yards on Saturday evening.
Sprott scored a 53-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter to cut Basha’s lead.
Missed the snap but @chandler_wolves respond with a long TD by @MaxwellSprott
13-13 game. pic.twitter.com/Er3F0vmZpF
— Jordan Spurgeon (@spurge_) August 30, 2026
Some of the talent was obvious from the start. For other players, the season-opener was an opportunity to make a breakthrough.
Saturday night was that night for Basha wide receiver Makai Nelson.
Nelson spent his freshman year at Chandler, transferred to Mountain View, sat out his season with the Toros and eventually landed at Basha this year. He hadn’t played a high school football game in nearly two years.
You’d never know it.
Nelson scored twice in the first half, including a buzzer-beater from Rodgers right before halftime.
BUZZER BEATER TO END THE HALF.
On 4th and long, @JakeRogers2027 drops it in the bucket for Makai Nelson.
2nd TD connection for that duo tonight. @bashagridiron up 20-13 at the half. pic.twitter.com/h9bfnwreB4
— Jordan Spurgeon (@spurge_) August 30, 2026
But Jake Rodgers and Makai Nelson weren’t the only quarterback-receiver duo making magic. The Chandler Wolves began working their way back early in the second half when Oregon-bound Will Mencl found Kaydon Gray for a touchdown to tie the game at 20-20.
Back and forth we go, @chandler_wolves strike ⚡️@WillMencl delivers a dart to @kaydongray25 for a TD
20-20 game in the 3rd quarter (no time in scoreboard) pic.twitter.com/qOtepEhHfW
— Jordan Spurgeon (@spurge_) August 30, 2026
Mencl and Gray connected again minutes later to come back but the blocked PAT had the Wolves down 27-26 with 11:08 left to play.
2nd TD connection of the night between @WillMencl & @kaydongray25
PAT is blocked, @chandler_wolves trail 27-26 w/ 11:08 remaining. pic.twitter.com/R83y794Qyk
— Jordan Spurgeon (@spurge_) August 30, 2026
Then Basha found another answer.
Mikey Barth drilled a 43-yard field goal with 6:02 remaining, extending Basha’s lead to 30-26.
The field goal of 43 yards gives @bashagridiron the 30-26 lead over Chandler with 6:02 remaining in 4Q @ctownrivals @AZHSFB pic.twitter.com/apPswnxzLr
— Brett (@brettinaz) August 30, 2026
Noah Roberts had a slow second half but came in clutch with a 10-yard TD with under 3 minutes left. The Bear’s extended the lead 37-26.
Basha calls game after a pick by @_kyserwilson followed by a TD run by @noahrobertsss (who hit em with the “night night” pose).@bashagridiron up 37-26 w/ 2:30 remaining pic.twitter.com/l9ocml8fQl
— Jordan Spurgeon (@spurge_) August 30, 2026
Chandler couldn’t find their way back.
The Bears remain the champions in this battle taking down the Wolves 37-26.
For out-of-state watchers, this game had every ingredient you often find in an Arizona high school football game: top prospects, breakthrough talent… and it wouldn’t be August in Arizona without a haboob mid-football game.
.@bashagridiron closes out & takes home the #ESPN victory vs Chandler 📺@Sports360AZ pic.twitter.com/lWbLSw83Ut
— Eliav Gabay (@eliavgabay) August 30, 2026