Hamilton looks like the team to beat in 6A this season.
It’s still early, and coach Matt Stone will downplay any suggestion of the sort, but the Huskies handled another top team Monday when they beat Canyon View 17-7 in an interconference contest between two of the state’s best proograms.
Hamilton (4-0) was a 6A semifinalist last year, and Canyon View (3-1) narrowly lost in the 5A state title game last season. But after scoring 66 and 42 points in two of its first three games behind all-state quarterback Katelyn Jewell, the Jaguars figured to make a formidable opponent.
Hamilton knew that, and it came in prepared. The Huskies also have a great quarterback leading the way in freshman Marlie Phillips, who led the Hamilton offense to a fast start, throwing two touchdowns in the first quarter, as the Huskies took control early.
“We came in ready for this game,” Phillips said. “We watched a lot of tape and we believed in our preparation. Everyone did their job.
Hamilton students and staff are on fall break, but the Husky offense isn’t, and it came out of the gates fast. Phillips threw efficiently while spreading the ball around to all her weapons, and scoring on its first two drives.
On the first score she found Samaya Taylor-Jenkins from five yards on a fourth and goal from five yareds out. After stopping Canyons View’s first possession, Phillips went to work again, manufacturing a five play drive, in which she hit Aaliyah Opara for a 29-yard scoring strike on the last play of the first quarter. It was 14-0 and Hamilton firing on all cylinders.
Kicker Laela Johnson added 25-yard field goal late in the second quarter to give the Huskies a 17-0 lead into halftime, with no signs of slowing down.
In the second half, Canyon View’s defense clamped down while Jewell started finding receivers downfield. Thanks to a 33-yard connection from Jewell to Liz Wetherington, the Jaguars found themselves at the 14-yard line of Hamilton with their first legitimate scoring threat. However, Hamilton defensive back Trinity Smith came up with a huge interception in the endzone, preserving the Huskies 17-0 lead.
Jewell and the Jaguars came right back with another drive that would pay off, as Jewell capped it with a five-yard scoring pass to Maycie Bassett. Canyon View cut the lead to 17-7 but with under four minutes left in the game, Canyon View simply ran out of time.
The Huskies didn’t score in the second half but were able to run the clock out and preserve the win.
“Besides their quarterback, (Canyon View) has a great defense,” Phillips said about Canyon View’s performance.Props to their coach, they came out with a good game plan and their defense showed out in the second half.”
Katelynn Jewell liked her squad fought back after the early deficit.
“We brought the intensity the whole game, so I’m really proud of us for that,” said the senior. “We wanted to give them a good game and we did that.”
Canyon View will host Lake Havasu Tuesday, while Hamilton won’t play until next Monday against Gilbert. And though the season is only a few weeks in, the Huskies look a dominant force that will be difficult for anyone to slow down.
“The goal right now and for this season is to continue improving each week,” Hamilton coach Matt Stone said. “Last year I remember scrimmaging Mountain View, and then we lost to them in the semifinals. The reason is because they had improved over the season, and we really hadn’t. We had a great team, but we hadn’t improved, so that is our focus.”…Read more by
