The win was welcome. Chandler Hamilton coach Steve Belles' happiness in his office afterward reflected that. But the score hasn't been settled.
SLIDESHOW: Friday night prep football action
The win was welcome. Chandler Hamilton coach Steve Belles' happiness in his office afterward reflected that.
But the score hasn't been settled.
Defense the story in Hamilton’s win
SLIDESHOW: Chandler Hamilton vs. Phoenix Brophy
SLIDESHOW: Friday night prep football action
There was plenty to be excited about. A capacity crowd filled the bleachers on both sides, and Cardinals Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald and Matt Leinart were on hand to watch.
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In the grand scheme, however, it didn't matter that No. 2 Hamilton won its home opener, 10-0, against No. 1 Phoenix Brophy on Friday night in a game featuring the top two teams in 5A Division I.
For the Huskies, it won't mean as much unless these two teams meet again in November or December.
"It's not the end-all, and we know that," Belles said.
That's because Brophy has knocked Hamilton out of the playoffs twice in the past three years.
But for a few hours, the Huskies (2-0) enjoyed themselves, basking in the glow of handing Brophy its first shutout in at least six years.
Defense ruled the night, no surprise given that the Broncos had seven starters returning from their 2007 championship team and the Huskies had eight regulars back.
Except for a two-minute stretch to close the first half, neither side could move the ball consistently against the other. Fortunately for Hamilton, those two minutes were enough.
Dante Alexander scored on a 36-yard option play to put Hamilton ahead 7-0. Again, the new-look, revamped Broncos couldn't move the ball (or run out the clock), and turned the ball over on downs following consecutive sacks by Hamilton.
Alexander put up 72 of his 106 yards rushing yards in the final two minutes and keyed another drive in the final 50 seconds, which led to Yannick Metz's 41-yard field goal at the halftime horn.
That was it for offense on this night, an odd sight given how potent these two schools have been offensively over the past five years.
Brophy (1-1) continues to go through a transformation, and it's going to take time with an entirely new set of skill-position players and a mostly new offensive line. The troubles reared themselves early and often, and Hamilton shut down the Broncos running game and constantly pressured quarterbacks Beau Maggi and Sam Quinif into seven sacks and three interceptions.
Eight penalties further hampered the Broncos, and covered up a terrific night of their own defensively.
"We certainly helped them by shooting ourselves in the foot," Brophy coach Scooter Molander said. "We didn't give ourselves a chance on offense, and that's frustrating,"
Though not as one-sided as last year, this game played out in similar fashion to a year ago.
When the two teams met on another big stage in November, Brophy won. Both sides are hoping for a sequel.
"No, it's not over," Huskies' Justin Rosales said. "We'll see them again. We always do."
