Hamilton's Steve Belles (left) and Mountain Pointe's Norris Vaughan have a mutual respect, but they will battle against each other on Friday night yet again.
Photo by Mark Jones
The postgame handshake between football coaching staffs would make for a great sociology study.
The egos, posturing, gamesmanship and the tough-guy mentality it takes to play the game can make for a tense encounter after 48 minutes of emotional football.
That might be the case in the moments after Friday's clash between
Mountain Pointe (Phoenix) and
Hamilton (Chandler), but that's where it will end.
While the relationship between the Pride's Norris Vaughan and the Huskies' Steve Belles was a little testy at first, the two mentors have a great respect for each other and the way the run their programs.
"Whether I respect or don't respect a coach doesn't matter the week we are playing them," Belles said. "I'm trying to beat them just the same. There is a lot of politics and jealousy sometimes between coaches and there shouldn't be. We are part of the same fraternity, but game week gets my competitive juices flowing and for that week I don't want to have anything to do with them.
"I'm trying to beat that coach, but afterward Norris and I could sit down and have a beverage."
Paul Lucas, Mountain Pointe
Photo by Jann Hendry
The programs have faced each other six times since Vaughan took over the Mountain Pointe program in 2009, with each team winning three games.
The matchup has been heightened by the fact the Division I championship game the last two seasons has come down to Mountain Pointe and Hamilton, with the Pride winning its first in 2013 and Hamilton earning the golden ball in 2012.
The two premier D-I programs have similar foundations where discipline, accountability and fundamentals are the building blocks, along with being arguably the most prepared teams week-in and week-out.
"He always makes sure they are detailed enough and good in their plays," said Vaughan, who added that Belles and Poston Butte's Paul Moro are the best coaches he's faced in Arizona. "It is not by mistake. Everything has to be taken care of and against Hamilton it is going to be.
"My awareness is more heightened because it is Hamilton and because it is him."
The teams enter this year's games both undefeated as Mountain Pointe (5-0) attempts to end the 63-game home winning streak the Huskies (4-0) have going, dating back to the 2004 season when they last lost in a 37-15 defeat against Highland.
Add in the fact that Mountain Pointe has won 19 straight games for the state's longest winning streak and these two coaches will be more than happy to be the guy who ends the other guy's streak.
"It doesn't matter if you and me are competing in basketball, football or who is going throw this pencil (he actually threw it) closest to the door, I am going to be competing," Vaughan said. "It's why we do what we do."
The game is expected to be on par with the last six games, starting with the Pride’s 17-14 win as time expired to open 2012, with the winner becoming the state championship favorite.
The Pride is fresh off a setting a school-record 541 yards rushing behind the trio of
Paul Lucas,
Brandyn Leonard and
Tyrek Cross, while the Hamilton defense played it best game in shutting out Liberty (Nev.) last week.
"I'm pretty happy with where we are right now other than the second-half breakdown against Pinnacle," Belles said, referring to the 37-35 win in which it once led 34-7 on Sept. 12. "This is a different test. They are a little more run-happy and if you can't stop the run you are in trouble. They have a three-headed monster back there and the best line in the state.
"They force their will on you and punish you."
And then shake your hand.
Jason P. Skoda, a former Arizona Republic and current Ahwatukee
Foothill News staff writer, is a 19-year sports writing veteran. Contact
him at jskoda1024@aol.com or 480-272-2449.
