2014 Arizona high school football finals preview

Even though Williams Field (Gilbert) and Liberty (Peoria) are about 60 miles apart and on opposite ends of the valley, the football programs are forever linked.

When the schools, which have identical same site plans and exteriors, first opened – a year apart with the same school colors (black and red) – and the football programs were in their infancy seven seasons ago, Williams Field and Liberty met in the state independent football championship on Nov. 13, 2008.

Williams Field won 49-21 on that day that pointed both programs in the right direction.

"I've always kept tabs on them," Liberty coach Dan Fileman said. "We have struck up a bond. We've sort of grown up together in a way and there are a lot similarities."

One of those similarities is that the success arc of the programs has brought the Black Hawks and Lions to the state championship stage in 2014.

"It's pretty cool we are both here (at the AIA state championship press conference)," Williams Field coach Steve Campbell said. "We've had similar paths to get to this point."

Liberty (12-1) faces Centennial (Peoria) (11-2) for the Division II state title in the Lions' first appearance, while Williams Field (12-1) attempts to derail Saguaro (Scottsdale) (13-0) from winning its seventh title in nine years in the Division III championship.

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Each coach started the programs from scratch, meaning they got a chance to put their imprint on every aspect of their respective programs.

"It's been great," said Campbell, who is appearing in his second championship game after losing in 2010. "We had no idea where it was going to go or what we could become. You don't have that history there. You don't know what you are walking. It's up to you and how you want to do things.

"It's kind of like your kid. You can take it from an infant stage and bring it up. We didn't to have change a culture. We created one."

Fileman said the opportunity to steer a program from the start has had its ups and downs and couldn't have been done without community support.

"It's a different thing," Fileman said. "They don't know anything but what you bring in. Our community and parents helped create that culture. Liberty in is Peoria but the community feels like small-town football. The people of the community have helped it remain that small-town football feel.

"Our kids buy in and it has been a good ride."

The process has been pretty positive from the start, as Williams Field is 72-14 since 2008 while Liberty is 66-18 over the same time period.

This year Williams Field has been led by Braedyn Bushman (2,455 rushing yards, 30 touchdowns) and a defense that allows only 14.8 points a game.

Liberty's defense has finally reached the championship level the offense has been at from the start, as the Lions held seven opponents under 17 points this season while averaging 40.1 points a game.

It would only be apropos if the two programs win their first state championships in the same season.

"I remember that first game (in 2008) and what we were trying to accomplish," Campbell said. "Dan has done a great job getting them to this point. We had a lot of goals back then and we have few more to scratch off the list."

Here is a look at championship weekend:

Division I
No. 2 Chandler (12-1) vs. No. 1 Hamilton (Chandler) (12-1)
Friday, 7 p.m.
University of Phoenix Stadium
Hamilton has made seven straight championship appearances, while rival Chandler makes its first state appearance in the AIA area. This series changed a year ago when Chandler won for the first time and then followed it up with a blowout this year. In between, Hamilton won in last year's semifinals. Can the Wolves finally win the big one?

Division II
No. 3 Centennial (11-2) vs. No. 1 Liberty (12-1)
Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
Sun Devil Stadium
The Coyotes are back in the title game for the second time in three seasons and sixth time since 2006, looking for their first win since 2008.

Division III
No. 2 Williams Field (12-1) vs. No. 1 Saguaro (13-0)
Saturday, 11:30 a.m.
Sun Devil Stadium
The Sabercats look to continue their dominance behind senior all-everything and record-breaking Christian Kirk, who could add two big-school state records (career touchdowns and career receptions) to his resume.

Division IV
No. 4 Snowflake (12-1) vs. No. 3 River Valley (Mohave Valley) (12-1)
Saturday, 6 p.m.
North Canyon High
Snowflake looks for its first state title since 1993 and River Valley its first. Snowflake's appearance marks the eighth-straight year a team from the White Mountains has been represented during state championship weekend.

Division V
No. 2 Tempe Prep (12-1) vs. No. 1 Yuma Catholic (13-0)
Saturday, 2 p.m.
North Canyon High
A matchup of perennial champion (Yuma Catholic) versus a first-timer (Tempe Prep). It's a rematch from Week 1 when Yuma Catholic won 56-27 in Tempe.

Jason P. Skoda, a former Arizona Republic and current Ahwatukee Foothills News staff writer, is a 20-year sports writing veteran. Contact him at jskoda1024@aol.com or 480-272-2449.