Chandler Hamilton coach Steve Belles knew this week’s game against Gilbert Highland would be different since his players had to go back to class after a two-week break.
On Friday, the host Huskies took Highland to school.
SLIDESHOW: Friday night high school football
Hamilton scored on six consecutive possessions to easily beat the Hawks, 48-0, in a Class 5A-I Fiesta Region matchup.
The third-ranked Huskies (7-1, 2-0) did whatever they wanted offensively, totalling more than 400 yards, while their defense allowed only four first downs and less than 100 yards.
“We are playing very well,” Belles said. “Going back to school can make things different, but they came out and took care of things.”
The Huskies put the game well out of reach in the final minute of the first half.
Quarterback Zakary Hambsch led an eight-play, 80-yard scoring drive in less than a minute. He completed all seven of his passes on the drive, capped by a 16-yard strike to Andrew Terrell. Terrell finished with nine catches for 103 yards.
“We are getting better offensively every week,” said Hambsch, who completed 15 of 19 passes for 170 yards. “Our offensive line has a lot of first-year players. They have improved more than we could have imagined.”
The score made it 31-0 at the break. The Huskies made it 38-0 on the first possession of the second half on Dante Alexander’s 73-yard run.
Alexander finished with 101 yards and two scores on nine carries. His 1-yard run in the first quarter gave Hamilton a 7-0 lead. He also added three receptions for 42 yards.
“We knew they were a good team, better than the score shows,” Hambsch said. “To get this win means a lot to us.”
As well as Hamilton’s offense played, its defense didn’t give up much of anything either.
The Hawks gained a single first down in each quarter and never got the ball farther than Hamilton’s 31-yard line.
