The difference between Chandler Hamilton coach Steve Belles’ first year and second year guiding the Huskies was one fewer win. A 13-1 campaign followed by a 12-1. That single discrepancy in record was not playing in the title game and hence not winning the championship.
Belles can’t guarantee a title, but he and his staff will do their best to make sure one thing happens this time around that seemed to be missing last year.
“The name of the game is to get better as we go,” Belles said. “Last year, I’m not sure that happened. We felt good going into the playoffs after Chandler (a 46-0 win), but we didn’t play that well when the playoffs started.”
The Huskies pretty much buried every foe in the regular season, save Gilbert. They were stunned by a quick 18-0 deficit at home to eventual 5A-II champ Peoria Centennial, but rebounded for a 35-18 win. They hammered Phoenix Brophy. Those games were in late August and early September.
Then came two close calls in the opening rounds of the playoffs in November with Gilbert Mesquite and Mesa Westwood, and a season-ending loss to Brophy in the semifinals.
“(In 2006), we peaked at the right time,” Belles said. “We didn’t have a close game in the playoffs. After last year, this group is very focused. A lot like the 2006 team. We have a bit of a chip on our shoulder. Winning anything less than a state championship by these guys won’t be looked on very well.”
Hamilton’s offense, with just three returning starters, needs the most work. Two-thirds of last year’s defense is back, so that unit will be counted on to pick up the slack if the offense is slow off the mark.
Hamilton heads to Miami, Fla., to open its season Friday against that state’s 4A champion, Booker T. Washington. After that, it’s a rematch with Brophy.
“That’s where that chip is on our shoulder,” Belles said. “Brophy has beaten us twice (2005 title game and 2007 semis) when it mattered most. We want to get to the point where we play them again and it matters.”
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Roster
| No. | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
| 1 | Ryan Milius | DB | 5-10 | 165 | Sr. |
| 2 | Drew Terrell | WR | 6-0 | 180 | Sr. |
| 3 | Dante Alexander | RB | 5-10 | 200 | Sr. |
| 4 | Eduardo Cervantes | DB | 5-7 | 140 | Sr. |
| 5 | Devon Carrington | DB | 6-1 | 187 | Jr. |
| 6 | Steven Hansen | WR | 5-9 | 172 | Jr. |
| 7 | Anthony Jones | LB | 6-2 | 210 | Sr. |
| 8 | Travis Dean | QB | 6-0 | 187 | Jr. |
| 9 | Kienan Turner | DB | 5-9 | 166 | Sr. |
| 10 | Malcolm Holland-Drury | DB | 5-10 | 170 | So. |
| 11 | Justin Brush | DB | 6-0 | 170 | Sr. |
| 12 | Zakary Hambsch | QB | 6-2 | 184 | Sr. |
| 13 | Rueben Robinson | LB | 6-3 | 225 | Sr. |
| 14 | Yannick Metz | K | 5-9 | 160 | Jr. |
| 15 | Jamar Beauvais | DB | 5-6 | 139 | Sr. |
| 16 | Taylor Grove | TE | 6-5 | 200 | Sr. |
| 17 | Alante Wright | WR | 6-3 | 185 | Sr. |
| 18 | Ethan Kipili'i | WR | 6-0 | 180 | Jr. |
| 20 | Zackary Parrish | TE | 6-2 | 185 | Jr. |
| 21 | Tyler Rutt | LB | 5-10 | 177 | So. |
| 22 | Dylan Williams | DB | 5-5 | 151 | Jr. |
| 23 | Andrew Stemple | DB | 6-2 | 150 | Jr. |
| 24 | Cedric Parker | DB | 5-8 | 140 | So. |
| 25 | Michael Crittenden | DB | 5-8 | 140 | Sr. |
| 26 | Damian Mayberry | WR | 6-1 | 170 | Sr. |
| 27 | Jordan Hill | DB | 5-8 | 165 | Jr. |
| 28 | Justin Rosales | LB | 5-9 | 177 | Sr. |
| 29 | Dexter Jackson | RB | 5-10 | 170 | Jr. |
| 31 | Michael Allen | RB | 5-10 | 175 | Jr. |
| 32 | Benjamin Peters | LB | 6-0 | 221 | Jr. |
| 33 | Robinson Sansume | WR | 5-7 | 150 | Sr. |
| 34 | Zacherty Bauman | RB | 5-10 | 205 | Sr. |
| 35 | Peter Gill | TE | 6-1 | 205 | Sr. |
| 36 | Nikolas Gaines | DL | 5-9 | 180 | Jr. |
| 36 | Austin Peer | RB | 5-8 | 167 | Jr. |
| 38 | Ty Thompson | DB | 6-0 | 158 | Jr. |
| 40 | Greg Moore Young | LB | 5-9 | 184 | Sr. |
| 41 | Patrick Pina | CB | 5-9 | 150 | Jr. |
| 42 | Michael McDonald | LB | 5-8 | 172 | Sr. |
| 43 | Kevin Boxberger | LB | 5-9 | 180 | Jr. |
| 44 | Davion Johnson | WR | 5-9 | 190 | Jr. |
| 45 | Sean House | LB | 6-0 | 195 | Sr. |
| 49 | Travis Poirkowski | DB | 5-9 | 150 | Jr. |
| 50 | Opinderjit Gill | OL | 6-3 | 230 | Sr. |
| 51 | Kieven Bryant | DL | 5-10 | 217 | Sr. |
| 52 | Gage Pruitt | DL | 5-10 | 240 | Sr. |
| 53 | Marcus Neuman | DL | 6-0 | 235 | Jr. |
| 54 | Ruben Rubio | DL | 6-0 | 225 | Sr. |
| 55 | Daniel Blackwell | OL | 6-0 | 250 | Sr. |
| 56 | Mark Tucker | DL | 5-11 | 183 | Sr. |
| 57 | Kyle Glew | DL | 6-0 | 190 | Jr. |
| 58 | Gerard Ingallina | OL | 6-0 | 225 | Jr. |
| 60 | Josh Canfield | K | 5-11 | 162 | Sr. |
| 61 | Spencer Lee | OL | 6-0 | 230 | Jr. |
| 62 | Marcus-Alex Esparza | K | 6-3 | 200 | Sr. |
| 64 | Alex Cosenza | OL | 6-3 | 265 | Sr. |
| 65 | Andrew Boca | OL | 5-8 | 200 | Jr. |
| 66 | Tyrell Argusta | DL | 6-0 | 230 | Sr. |
| 67 | Justin LaLonde | OL | 6-0 | 240 | Jr. |
| 69 | Jeremiah Morris | DL | 6-0 | 260 | Jr. |
| 70 | Joel Whittier | DL | 6-0 | 260 | Sr. |
| 71 | Saul Espinoza | OL | 5-11 | 230 | Jr. |
| 72 | Shelby Luke | DL | 5-10 | 226 | Sr. |
| 73 | Dylan Beikman | OL | 6-0 | 260 | Jr. |
| 75 | Christian Westerman | OL | 6-5 | 277 | So. |
| 77 | Tanner Moore | DL | 5-9 | 260 | Sr. |
| 79 | Mike Hitchock | OL | 6-3 | 275 | Sr. |
| 80 | Arthur Pullam | RB | 5-7 | 160 | Jr. |
| 81 | Paul Granillo | DB | 5-11 | 157 | Sr. |
| 82 | Nate McDonald | K | 5-10 | 145 | Jr. |
| 83 | Alexander Conrad | K | 5-8 | 150 | Jr. |
| 84 | KC Mueller | TE | 5-8 | 176 | Jr. |
| 85 | Trey Wilson | WR | 5-10 | 165 | Jr. |
| 87 | Sam McAlear | K | 6-1 | 185 | Jr. |
| 88 | Nicolas Del Valle | DL | 5-11 | 165 | Jr. |
| 89 | Keenan Merrigan | TE | 6-3 | 240 | Jr. |
| 90 | Michael Sylvestre | DL | 6-3 | 270 | Sr. |
| 95 | Sage Aiono | DL | 6-0 | 240 | Jr. |
| 97 | Tevin Hood | DL | 6-0 | 270 | Jr. |
| 98 | Lonnie Moore | DL | 5-9 | 205 | Sr. |
| 99 | Tim Fowler | TE | 6-0 | 185 | Sr. |
