In a battle of unbeatens, the Chandler Wolves edged the Scottsdale Firebirds-Gold 16-12 Saturday for the CAYFL Cadet championship at Chaparral High School.

After a slow start, the Wolves were able to gain momentum in the end of the first quarter. Wolves quarterback Devin Cowen completed two passes to Imani Lee to get in the red zone just before the quarter ended.

On the first play in the second quarter, Cito Hemphill-Toledo ran 17 yards for a Wolves touchdown. Connor Nason added two more points with the extra-point kick.

Later in the quarter, Lee got a sack, forcing the Firebirds to punt. The Wolves didn’t have the ball long when Delano Salgado intercepted a pass for the Firebirds.

Lee along with Tanner Palormarez and Cutter Hatch got the tackle behind the line of scrimmage. Then the Wolves’ Mario DeChristophario broke up a pass. Lee and Javi Reynolds had another sack, putting the Firebirds in a fourth-and-14 situation. Hemphill-Toledo broke up another pass, forcing the Firebirds to surrender the ball on downs.

Firebird Cooper Nelson got a sack, and the Wolves were forced to punt.

After a series of penalties for both teams, Hemphill-Toledo got through the line and tackled the runner for a loss of 5 yards for the Firebirds. On the next play Ty Siffermann intercepted a pass to end the half.

Nelson had a couple big gains helping the Firebirds get first and goal from the 1. After being stopped twice, Nelson was able to cross into the end zone. The extra kick was no good, bringing the score to 8-6.

Hemphill-Toledo broke off a 15-yard run, setting up the Wolves on the Firebirds 11. Lee took the ball to the outside and easily scored the touchdown. Nason’s kick was good, leaving the Wolves up 16-6.

The Firebirds quickly gave the ball back when Hemphill-Toledo snagged an interception. The Wolves were not able to capitalize, and the Firebirds’ Damon Flores-Ortiz blocked a punt and jumped on the recovery.

To begin the final quarter Drew Heers recovered a fumble for the Wolves. Brayden Kaiser got a tackle behind the line for the Firebirds. The Wolves punted, and after a solid drive, Nelson dove for the Firebirds’ second touchdown, cutting the gap to 16-12.

Nicholas Barendrick jumped on a fumble later in the quarter giving the Firebirds another possession, but the Wolves held on.