Second-seeded Scottsdale Chaparral made a statement early that it wasn’t going to mess around with No. 15 Avondale Agua Fria.

SLIDESHOW: Friday night high school football action

The heavily favored Firebirds (10-1) recovered their onside kick on the opening kickoff and took only four plays to score a touchdown on the way to a 51-7 win in a first-round game of the Class 4A-I state playoffs Friday at Firebird Stadium.

“I just felt, for us, we didn’t end the regular season as well as we wanted to and it was important to start out fast,” said Chaparral coach Charlie Ragle. “We felt that if we got on them early, it would be to our advantage.”

Senior Eric Shaw recovered Xavier Crawley’s opening kickoff. Four plays later, Dayne Kamela scored on a 4-yard run.

Chaparral scored 21 first-quarter points and led 30-0 by halftime.

The Firebirds played without starting running back Dwayne Garrett, who was out with an illness. Garrett has rushed for 1,454 yards and scored 25 touchdowns in the regular season. His team didn’t skip a beat with second-teamer Cole Tyree.

The backup rushed for 172 yards on 15 carries and had one touchdown.

“I knew this was my opportunity and I wasn’t going to let it go,” said Tyree, who had 113 yards by halftime. He left the game in the third quarter with a left ankle injury.

That didn’t slow the Firebirds’ running attack either. They finished with 342 yards on 36 attempts.

Senior quarterback Spencer Stone threw three touchdown passes. Kamela scored three touchdowns, two rushing and one receiving. Senior defensive end and Michigan commitment Craig Roh had a first-half safety.

“I’m pleased,” Ragle said. “But, if we’re going to win the big games next week, two weeks from now, three weeks from now, we can’t have penalties and mental busts. If you want to win a state championship, you have to play the best.”

Chaparral had 12 penalties for 124 yards and one turnover.

Agua Fria finished its season 4-7.