Sports

Photos from the game

Except for the final minute of the first half and the first couple of minutes of the second half, Laveen Cesar Chavez dominated host Phoenix Trevor Browne 50-27 Thursday night in a Class 5A Division I Metro Region opener.

Six games into the Jim Rattay era, Cesar Chavez (4-2, 1-0) has more victories than it did in each of the past two seasons when it went 3-7 both years.

But Rattay can't get too excited yet. Not after watching his team give up two touchdowns in a span of nine seconds in the final minute of the second quarter that cut Chavez's lead to 34-20 at the half.

Then, after an interception, Trevor Browne (2-4, 0-1) marched down the field and scored to make it 34-27.

Not panicking, Chavez, led by Tony Lee's three second-half sacks, held tight the rest of the way.

"We focused and started playing football," senior outside linebacker Demetrius Burnett said.

Chavez's offense is dynamic, and now more balanced with the emergence of senior running back Terry Smith, who scored on runs of 63, 4 and 5 yards in the first half and added a fourth in the second half.

Smith, who ran for 180 yards on 22 carries in last week's win at Mesa Red Mountain, finished with 135 yards on 13 carries.

"We've got to develop and be a little more consistent," Rattay said. "We had our moments."

Senior quarterback Brandon Cluff, who completed 11 of 15 for 261 yards and two touchdowns, hit receiver Lyle Blummears on a 50-yard score on Chavez's first possession.

With a minute left in the half, freshman Davonte' Neal turned in the play of the game. After receiving a punt at his 36, Neal found space along the sideline, picked up a great block from Tazio Tate, jumped over a defender at the Trevor Browne 20 and ran into the end zone.

Chavez can feel the confidence build.

"Now it's a real family, including the coaches," Burnett said. "We treat them like dads and uncles."

Photos from the game