By Andy Walter

SMYRNA — Nate Chandler can still see Braden Davis running away from him.

The Smyrna High defensive lineman can still picture Davis throwing a three-yard touchdown pass to Middletown teammate Zachary Caldwell with only 4:01 left in the game.

The fact that the last-minute TD gave the Cavaliers a heart-breaking 28-22 win over the Eagles in last year’s DIAA Class 3A football state finals has etched the play in Chandler’s memory.

“It’s one of those games you can kind of relive every night,” he said. “You can close your eyes and see the exact moments. ... I was a couple feet away from him (Davis) when he threw it.”

For Chandler and his teammates, their journey back to this year’s state title game started that very night.

On Saturday, the top-seeded Eagles (11-1) will face No. 6 Dover (8-4) in the Class 3A state championship game at approximately 3 p.m. at Delaware Stadium.

Chandler is a big reason why Smyrna is back in the finals. The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder was named the district Lineman of the Year in Class 3A District II.

When the Eagles’ bus returned to school after last season’s state title game, Chandler said he literally went straight to the weight room.

“I worked out a little bit,” he remembered. “But I was just thinking about some stuff. A couple days after that, I got on a routine,”

Chandler emerged this fall as a force on Smyrna’s defense. He’s been credited with 15 sacks and 36 tackles for loss among his 85 total stops.

The Eagles’ defensive front of Chandler, Brandon West, Julian Charlescar and Caleb Blane has been difficult for any offense to crack. Smyrna has five shutouts in its 12 games and is allowing only 9.5 points per game.

Chandler’s performance has helped earn him an FCS Division I scholarship. Chandler recently verbally committed to Sacred Heart University in Connecticut.

“I think he’s more confident,” said Smyrna coach Mike Judy. “He’s had another year of physical maturity. He’s naturally a strong kid. He put in a lot of work this summer and in the off-season.

“He’s just one of those guys who matured at the right time. He’s definitely a force to be reckoned with. He’s a problem (for the opposing offense) anywhere you put him. He’s in the right place at the right time a lot — which is pretty characteristic of your best football players. He’s having a heck of a year.”

Chandler is no stranger to Dover. He grew up in Towne Point.

Then, after going to middle school in Smyrna, he spent his first two years of high school at Dover. Chandler, whose father, Eric, played football for the Senators, then transferred back to Smyrna two years ago.

Chandler played for the Senators as a freshman but didn’t play at all in his sophomore season after the COVID pandemic hit.

“I’ve got some people that I grew up with there (at Dover),” said Chandler. “I’m here now (at Smyrna). These are my brothers. I’m ready to do anything to help them win.”

Chandler is happy with the way he’s developed into a better football player over the past year. He knows it was a matter of him getting motivated and putting in the off-season effort.

“I’m proud of what I’ve done but none of it’s surprising to me because I knew I put in enough work,” said Chandler. “But I’m even more proud of my teammates. Over the summer, all of us were there at the workouts. They were putting in work outside the workouts.

“You could tell everyone was ready to step up to the next level.”

Extra points

Rudy Simonetti, who was Dover’s head coach for five seasons, is now in his second year as an assistant at Smyrna. ... Smyrna had eight players named first-team all-district while Dover had seven. ... The all-class teams are slated to be determined on Wednesday. ... There are four former Wesley College players/coaches involved in coaching in the Class 3A game, including Dover’s Chip Knapp and Smyrna’s Judy, Chris Sfamurri and Andre Summers.

Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at walter@iniusa.org. Follow on Twitter at @DSNSports.