Hamilton finishes regular season undefeated

Chandler Hamilton wrapped up a perfect regular season in convincing fashion Friday night.

With the Fiesta Region title already clinched and the playoffs looming, the top-ranked Huskies didn’t miss a beat, cruising to a 43-22 win over Mesa in a Fiesta Region game at Jackrabbit Stadium.

Mesa (6-4, 1-4), which lost close games to highly ranked Brophy and Chandler earlier this season, figured to give Hamilton a challenge, but the game was never close.

Hamilton (10-0, 5-0) was clicking on all cylinders Friday, getting big plays on both sides of the ball and on special teams. As usual, Zach Bauman and Michael Allen led the rushing attack for Hamilton, combining for three touchdowns and 141 yards.

Defensive back Devon Carrington highlighted the first half when he scooped up a Mesa fumble and took it back 50 yards for a touchdown.

Hamilton also sacked Mesa quarterback Dallin Parker twice in his own end zone, recording a safety each time.

“I like the way our kids played tonight, because we played well against a good team,” Hamilton coach Steve Belles said afterward. “We knew they were going to be good up front, especially on defense, so I’m really pleased with the way our offense played.”

Mesa scored on its first possession of the game, as Ryan Tyler connected on a field goal from 26 yards out.

But Hamilton wasted no time responding, scoring a touchdown on its first possession with some trickery on the second play.

Travis Dean connected with receiver Tanner Clay, who had appeared to run to the sideline before the ball was snapped. Clay stayed inbounds — undetected — and the wide-open Clay strolled into the end zone for an easy 33-yard touchdown.

“I normally don’t like running trick plays early in the game, but we wanted to get momentum back quick since (Mesa) scored first,” Belles said of the Huskies’ first score.

There was no more trickery required for Hamilton, which scored touchdowns on two of its next three possessions in the first half. Kicker Yannick Mets added a pair of 47-yard field goals for the Huskies in the first half, giving Hamilton a 28-9 lead.

This marks the fifth time in 11 seasons that Hamilton has completed the regular season undefeated. None of those teams was able to complete a perfect 14-0 season, but head coach Steve Belles is excited for the opportunity.

“Going undefeated in the regular season is a great accomplishment, but it won’t matter unless we go 4-0 in the playoffs.”

Mesa quarterback Dallin Parker finished with 201 total yards, including 77 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

LIVE IN-GAME UPDATES

Hamilton forces Mesa to settle for a 26-yard FG from Tyler Ryan, giving the Jackrabbits a 3-0 lead with 5:09 left in the first quarter.

Hamilton takes a 7-3 lead over Mesa on a trick play that fooled everyone on the defense.   Tanner Clay pretended to run over to the Huskies sideline, but he stayed in bounds, and no one covered him when the ball was snapped. QB Travis Dean found him wide open for a 33-yard TD.

Hamilton scores again on a five-play, 60-yard drive, with Zach Bauman taking it into the end zone on an 8-yard run. It's 14-3 Hamilton over Mesa with just over a minute left in the first quarter.

Hamilton defensive back Devon Carrington scoops up a Mesa fumble and goes 48 yards for a touchdown. The two-point pass fails, but it's 25-3 Hamilton over Mesa with six minutes left in the second quarter.

Mesa scores on a 24-yard run by quarterback Dallin Parker, cutting Hamilton's lead to 25-9 with 3:39 left until the half. The extra point was no good.

Yannick Mets hits his second field goal, this one a 47-yarder, to make it 8-9 Huskies at the half.

Mesa quarterback Dallin Parker is sacked in the end zone for the second time in the game, extending Hamilton's lead to 30-9 in the third quarter.

Michael Allen scores on a 72 yard jaunt for Hamilton, putting the Huskies up 36-9 late in the third quarter.

Zach Bauman's 20 yard touchdown run extends Hamilton's lead to 43-9 at the end of the third quarter.

PREVIEW

Hamilton (9-0, 4-0) at Mesa (6-3, 1-3)

Time: 7 p.m.

Address: 1630 E. Southern Ave., Mesa

Key matchup: Mesa’s defense has flown under the radar for most of this season, but they can make something of themselves and more by limiting Hamilton’s backfield of Michael Allen and Zach Bauman, plus QB Travis Dean running the ball, and force the Huskies to throw more than 50 percent of the time.

Key stat: Allen and Bauman have combined for 26 TDs and 9.6 yards per carry.

The intrigue: Mesa has almost locked up a home game for next week’s playoffs, while Hamilton won’t fall below No. 2. Mesa is coming off a bye, healthier and with the majority of kids back from a one-game suspension for violating team rules two weeks ago. Plus every loss this season has been by a touchdown or less. It’s not quite a trap game for Hamilton because coach Steve Belles predicted Mesa would be good in August, but don’t be surprised if the Jackrabbits challenge the Huskies to the very end.