If Friday night was a foreshadow of how Taylor Walstad is going to finish what he’s planning on being two more games of his high school career at Chandler, he’d sign on the dotted line for another knee injury.

An up-and-down (but mostly down) season for the Arizona State commit reached new heights in the fourth-seeded Wolves’ 40-28 win against visiting No. 5 Mesa Mountain View in a 5A Division I quarterfinal that was a rematch from three weeks ago.

After the Wolves won a shootout in late October for their first win against Mountain View in 25 years, it was Chandler’s first playoff victory against Mountain View in three tries during coach Jim Ewan’s nine-year tenure at the school.

More importantly, it sets up a Chandler-Chandler Hamilton semifinals in two weeks on a neutral field to be decided.

These Wolves (9-3) appear better equipped than any to match up with the defending champion Huskies. Chandler made Brett Hundley its starting quarterback against Peoria Centennial, moved quarterback Kyle Yount to receiver and is as healthy as they’re going to get heading into December.

The Wolves’ excitement level went up a notch after Walstad — who missed six weeks with a partially torn tendon in his knee — ran, cut and bullied through and around the Toros to the tune of 124 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 15 carries.

“This was the game we’ve been expecting to see him all year,” Ewan said. “It’s the game we were hoping to get and the perfect time of year for him to be doing this.”

There were glimpses of Walstad’s worth against Mesa Skyline (127 yards) but then he went down.

Oshea Hatcher ran for most of his 750 yards this season while Walstad was on the sidelines rehabilitating, though his carries have shrunken a bit since Walstad’s gradual return the past month. Yet Hatcher had five touches on Friday night; two went for touchdowns and another was a 25-yard run. Jeremy Morris had a pair of kickoff returns top 110 total yards, and Michael Okonkwo caught a 71-yard touchdown pass from Logan Spears on a trick play.

It was 27-0 Chandler at halftime before the Toros (8-4) began a comeback. Jacom Brimhall scored three touchdowns as the Toros pulled with 40-28 early in the fourth quarter on a Brad Heap-to-Jordan Hinton connection.

That’s when Chandler went to Walstad and Hundley on the ground, and the pair ran wide and through to grind out yards and kill the clock.

“We did a great job in the second half. We just needed to play a little better in the first half,” said Toros coach Tom Joseph, who went for it three times on fourth down in the first half but missed the third time and left Chandler a short field the Wolves turned into a touchdown before halftime.

“We couldn’t afford any mistakes.”

No teams can against this offense. Hundley was his usual self (118 yards passing, 81 yards rushing, two total TDs and a 2-point conversion), Hatcher provided big plays and Morris keyed the special teams.

Add a healthy Walstad to the mix, and it’s a wonder watching the Wolves weave their way back to the semifinals for the second time in Ewan’s nine years.

It’s a shame we have to wait two weeks for this Chandler-Hamilton rematch, one in which No. 32 will be full strength.

“I couldn’t imagine not coming back,” Walstad said. “It was the worst feeling in the world having to watch, but I feel great now, and I can’t wait for the next one. We’re stronger, and I don’t see anyone stopping us.”

LIVE IN-GAME UPDATES

Taylor Walstad runs it on from 2 yards out on the opening drive and it's 7-0 Chandler. Brett Hundley was a perfect 4-for-4 on the drive and added a 20-yard run.

Chandler runs a trick play, as Logan Spears throws a halfback pass to Michael Okonkwo, who cuts across the field and goes 71 yards for the touchdown. The extra point is blocked but it's 13-0 Chandler early in the second quarter.

On his first carry of the night, Chandler's Oshea Hatcher takes a draw play 29 yards for a touchdown to put the Wolves ahead 19-0 with 1:13 left in the half. The two-point pass attempt was caught just short of the goal line.

After Mountain View turns it over on fourth down at its own 30-yard line, Bretty Hundley rolls to one sideline, then throws back across the field to a wide-open Oshea Hatcher for a 30-yard touchdown. Hundley runs in the 2-point play and it's now 27-0 Chandler with 15 seconds left in the first half.

An impressive Mountain View drive ends with Brimhall running it in from a yard out to make it Chandler 27, Mountain View 7 early in the third quarter.

Brimhall scores his second touchdown of the night, this one from 5 yards out, and it's 34-14 Chandler with 1:54 left in the third quarter.

Brimhall goes 21 yards on a screen pass for a touchdown, his third of the game, to cut Chandler's lead to 34-21 with 8:40 left to play.

Walstad fights his way into the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown that puts Chandler up 40-21 with 7 minutes left.

Heap his Hinton on a slant for a touchdown that makes it Chandler 40, Mountain View 28. The Wolves recover the onside kick.

Final: Chandler 40, Mountain View 28. The Wolves advance to play intracity rival Hamilton in the state semifinals.

PREVIEW

Wolves not taking any chances against Toros