CHANDLER - It was a game of punches and counter-punches, but once Chandler wobbled, Devon Kennard delivered the knockout blow.

Phoenix Desert Vista’s monster defensive end knocked the ball from Chandler quarterback Payton Lacivita’s hand, picked it up and ran 12 yards into the end zone midway through the fourth quarter, capping a 31-14 Thunder victory in the first round of the 5A-I state tournament at Chandler.

Although the Wolves stuck mostly to the run game, Kennard had a feeling a pass was coming after seeing the offensive formation.

"It looked like it was going to be a pass, and I went right at him," Kennard said. "I beat my man and went right for the ball."

Desert Vista will play at No. 3 Mesa Mountain View next Friday. The win avenges a 20-13 regular season loss by Desert Vista to the Wolves.

"We talked all week about redemption," Desert Vista coach Dan Hinds said. "You don’t get a lot of chances in life to redeem yourself. The kids realized they did have a chance this week and they stepped it up."

Chandler scored on the opening possession of the game on Lacivita’s 40-yard pass to Archie Woulard, but Desert Vista responded with a 27-yard touchdown run from Allante Battle to tie the game at seven.

The Thunder took the lead in the third quarter on a 2-yard plunge from Luke Matthews, but then Chandler answered back to even things at 14.

From there, it was all Desert Vista. Matthews scored again and Brock Jolly kicked a 23-yard field goal to go up by 10 points, and Kennard ended Chandler’s chance to rally back.

The hit knocked Lacivita from the game.

"Kennard came up with that great play at the right time," Hinds said. "That was the right time for it to happen. It created the momentum we needed to finish them off."

Desert Vista moved the ball at will in the opening half, but penalties and other mistakes limited the scoring to Battle’s touchdown. Once those were ironed out, talented Desert Vista showed its potential.

"We’re just starting to jell right now, and it’s a good time to do that," Hinds said. "That was a great opponent, but we did some things tonight and it’s starting to come together. It’s real exciting."

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