5A-I CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
No. 1 Hamilton vs. No. 10 Desert Ridge
When: 4 p.m. Monday
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium
TV/Radio/Internet: Fox Sports Arizona/KDUS (1060 AM)/aia365.com
Records: Hamilton 14-0; Desert Ridge 10-3
Last meeting: Hamilton 45, Desert Ridge 7 (Oct. 2006)
Tickets: $10 for adults, $6 for students and younger (with I.D.), Free for kids ages 5 and under
HUSKIES AT A GLANCE
Hamilton offense
WR — Nic Henson
LT — Tyler Johnstone
LG — John Archuleta
C — Nic Cosenza
RG — Steven Oliver
RT — Christian Westerman Jr.
TE — Jake Andrews
QB — Kyren Poe
RB — Kendyl Taylor
RB — Jai Johnson
WR — Tanner Clay
Hamilton defense
DE — Shaq Jenkins
DT — Tyler Lippert
DT — Tibyus Medley
DE — Wes Standifird
LB — Tucker Dunn
LB — Mike Liebrock
LB — Tyler Rutt
CB — Cedric Parker
SS — Reggie Daniels
FS — Malcolm Holland
CB — Bobby Milus
Hamilton special teams
K — Michael Markette
P — Kendyl Taylor
KR — Kendyl Taylor/Malcolm Holland
PR — Malcolm Holland
Hamilton season stats
Name Comp Att Yds TD INT
Kyren Poe 117 180 1,821 14 4
Name Att Yds Avg TD
Kyren Poe 129 719 5.6 12
Jai Johnson 113 822 7.3 13
Kendyl Taylor 66 681 10.3 8
Name Rec Yds Avg TD
Tanner Clay 51 1,091 21.4 9
Kendyl Taylor 44 679 15.4 5
Nic Henson 20 191 9.6 1
JAGUARS AT A GLANCE
Desert Ridge offense
WR — Paris Clark
LT — Dallas Doane
LG — Nick Allen
C — Taylor Aungst
RG — Nathan Burch
RT — Alex Barrett
WR — Ruben Rodriguez
QB — Jordan Becerra
RB — Joey Counts
WR — Sam Papa
WR — Austin Herrera
Desert Ridge defense
DE — Damani Mosby
DT — Alex Barrett
DT — Kevin Yamada
DE — Jake Watts
LB — Ryan Hathcock
LB — Sam Papa
LB — Jason Wiggins
CB — Paris Clark
SS — Ruben Rodriguez
FS — Anthony Hovorka
CB — Jordan Becerra
Desert Ridge special teams
K — Danny Berzins
P — Keaton Cenatiempo
KR — Jordan Becerra
PR — Anthony Hvorka
Desert Ridge season stats
Name Comp Att Yds TD INT
Parker Rasmussen 75 121 1,225 12 4
Jordan Becerra 22 52 314 3 1
Name Att Yds Avg TD
Joey Counts 156 1,205 7.7 19
Jordan Becerra 132 992 7.5 12
Kevin Walters 24 209 8.7 2
Name Rec Yds Avg TD
Jordan Becerra 32 464 14.5 0
Paris Clark 24 552 23.0 8
Sam Papa 17 343 20.2 6
Three things to watch
• Hamilton’s defensive ends: In Desert Ridge’s offense, quarterback Jordan Becerra has the choice to hand the ball off to running back Joey Counts or keep it himself. This decision is helped made by the opposing defensive ends, who have to commit to one player or the other. Against undisciplined teams, Desert Ridge ran wild. If Hamilton’s players make the right decisions and bottle up the run game, the Jaguars have almost no chance of winning. However, if Hamilton has trouble with the read-option, the Jaguars will be able to move the ball on the ground.
• Sam Papa: Desert Ridge may not have many players on defense that can match up with Hamilton’s potent offense, but Papa is one of them. The senior linebacker will be counted on heavily to make plays in the run game. Last season, Marcos de Niza linebacker Ramon Abreu was the catalyst in the team’s shocking upset of Centennial in the 5A-II semifinals. Papa will need to have a similar impact for Desert Ridge.
• Hamilton’s offensive line: The Huskies’ starters average 6-foot-3 and 265 pounds across the board, more than two inches and nearly 45 pounds more than Desert Ridge’s defensive linemen. Hamilton’s rushing game is averaging more than seven yards per carry this season, and these players are the reason why. Whether it is blitzing, stunts, or sheer determination, Desert Ridge needs to find some way to get a presence in Hamilton’s backfield. Judging by the height and weight discepancies, it is much easier said than done.
