Boerne Champion received a big treat on Halloween night after the Chargers defeated Wagner and, in the process, earned a playoff spot.
Champion throttled the Thunderbirds 45-22 Friday at BISD Stadium and the win, coupled with New Braunfels’ victory over Seguin, vaulted the Chargers into the postseason.
After missing the playoffs in 2024, Chargers coach Blane Ellis said that was one of the main goals this season.
“It’s something we’ve been talking about since last November. The kids set their minds to it and came out and did what they needed to do,” he said. “I’m very, very proud of these guys.”
Champion came out swinging and tallied 24 points in the first seven minutes of the game to knock the Thunderbirds on their heels.
Julian Navarette tossed TD passes to Brogan Dempsey and Zachary Lopez on their first two possessions. Carter Thompson booted a 37-yard field goal and then William Burgess hauled in Navarette’s third passing touchdown of the game for the early 24-0 lead.
Fumble recoveries by Braedan O’Neill and Dylan O’Neill in that first quarter gave the Chargers short fields to work with.
“Our defense was tremendous tonight,” Ellis said. “They were very physical and forced fumbles, and the offense capitalized on turnovers.”
Just when it looked like the Chargers were going to blow it open, the Thunderbirds responded with two quick touchdowns.
J’Anthony Joyner Price capped a Wagner drive with a 1-yard plunge, and then the T-Birds forced a turnover on Champion’s next possession and scored again on another Joyner Price run, and it was 24-14.
However, Champion answered Wagner’s 14 points with 14 points of its own. Dempsey reeled in another Navarette TD pass of 17 yards, and on the ensuing kickoff, Jaydin Davis pounced on a loose ball after Wagner never fielded the ball and the Chargers were in business at the Thunderbirds’ 23-yard line.
Ryder Flugence entered at the quarterback spot and ran it in on a 4th and 1 at the 1 and it was 38-14 right before halftime after the Thompson kick.
Both Navarette and Flugence saw time under center, and while it wasn’t a true 50/50 split, Ellis said he likes the two-headed approach at quarterback.
“We have a very unique luxury of having two quarterbacks we feel we can win with,” he said. “We’re going to take it one week at a time and see what the game plan presents.”
Neither team scored in the third quarter, but the Chargers extended their lead early in the final stanza. Dempsey snagged his third touchdown pass of the night from Navarette, who tossed five TDs in the game to make it 45-14.
Wagner added a late score after Noah Barbosa scampered in on a 1st and goal at the 5 to complete the scoring with 2:45 left.
Ellis said they overcame a lot this year to make the playoffs.
“The grit, the trust and the belief they have in each other is a testament to this group,” he said. “They really do believe in each other and in what we’re doing.”
Champion (6-3, 4-2) visits Pieper Friday. Right now, the Chargers are the No. 4 seed in 13-5A DI but could move up to as high as the No. 2 seed, depending on what happens in the district on the last night of the regular season.
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