It took a full 12 minutes of play for the Champion Chargers to get their footing in Laredo Friday, breaking open a tight game against Laredo United South with four second- quarter touchdowns enroute to a 58-10 blowout win in their season opener.
The Chargers rolled up a 37-3 halftime lead after the two teams traded field goals and punts on their opening possessions. Brogan Dempsey began a stellar night with a 38-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead before United South responded with three points of their own.
But Champion woke up with under two minutes left in the opening quarter. After bobbling and dropping a punt, Dempsey secured the ball and returned it 20 yards to the Laredo 33. On the very next play, junior quarterback Julian Navarrete hit receiver William Burgess on a quick out before Burgess cut back across the middle and outran Laredo defenders into the end zone. A missed extra point saw Champion with the 9-3 lead.
The Charger defense then came alive as well. After Laredo’s field goal on its opening drive, Champion stifled the Panthers with three three-andout possessions and twice stopped the Panthers on fourthdown conversion attempts the remainder of the half.
Coach Blane Ellis’s Chargers then opened the floodgates, scoring 28 points in the second quarter.
Navarrete capped a fiveplay drive by running out of the pocket for a touchdown and a 16-3 lead less than a minute into the second quarter.
After a defensive stop, Champion’s offense drove from its own 43 for another score. Navarrete, throwing into double coverage, hit Dempsey for a 29-yard TD and a 23-3 lead 6:52 before halftime.
After a Laredo punt, Champion quickly moved the ball deep into Laredo territory. On a first-and-goal from the 5, Owen Kuhl took a direct snap into the end zone for a 30-3 lead.
After a strong defensive stand featuring lineman Seth Wood stuffing a third-down run and then sacking the Laredo quarterback on fourth down, Champion went into its two-minute offense. Navarrete hit running back Caleb Farias on a 13-yard pass just 33 seconds before halftime to push the game out of reach at 37-3.
Champion scored three second- half touchdowns while United South found the end zone late in the game.
The 1-0 Chargers visit Medina Valley Friday to face the Panthers in Castroville.
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