Blue and white streamers waved from the fences, and the marching band’s trumpets gleamed under the stadium lights, as the roar of cheering students from the stands poured into the whole field. But this wasn’t just any football game. This was a game that would determine the student morale for the homecoming weekend and the week until the next football game. With CHS football gaining a new head coach this year, Ty Wisdom, many knew the 2025 season would be watched carefully by the high school sports community across the state. Nowhere is this pressure more visible for athletes, students, and staff than in the lead up to this year’s Homecoming game. With a higher attendance in the stands and an impressive show of school spirit, as many students showed up in flashy neon colors, there was much anticipation for this game.
For some players, the pressure on game night is their fuel and drive. Ethan Schmerfeld, who is part of the defensive team, stated, “Being on that field with a million things coming at you at once, sometimes you have to just have to be able to resort back to your happy place, which for me is hearing the cheers of the student section.” Being on defense means you have to be on the front line ready to protect and guard your teammates who need to run it in to score the touchdown. The heat of the lights, the opposing players that are slamming into you at high speeds, and the screaming of coaches can get to a player’s head, but for Ethan, hearing the cheers from the stands makes all the noise worth it.
Playing the game is one thing, but having to coach it is a whole different experience. Assistant coach Steve Huber has been coaching CHS football since November of 2010. When asked how he has been able to coach CHS football for so long, he stated, “You know every season is so different. For many we had a long standing winning streak and were beasts on the field. And then we lost for a while, but no matter how many times we’ve lost, we’ve always gotten back up bigger and stronger.” With high hopes for the season, Coach Huber is ready for what new challenges this season will bring for the boys.
As the crowd cheered under the Friday night lights, it was clear that this win meant more than just numbers on a scoreboard; it was a moment of pride for the entire Chandler High community. The Wolves were able to bring home a big Homecoming weekend game win with a final score of 63-13 against Valley Vista. This win helped make that night memorable for CHS football players and spectators, putting a punctuation mark on a memorable Homecoming week.
