Desert Vista (Ariz.) ends nation's longest win streak, wins Division I state title

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The nation's longest winning streak has come to an end and along with it the three-year reign by Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) in big-school Arizona football.

Desert Vista (Phoenix, Ariz.) started strong and never let up in a 45-19 win over Hamilton for the Division I state title at University of Phoenix Stadium.

It ended Hamilton's 53-game winning streak and kept the Huskies (13-1) winning an unprecedented fourth straight big-school title.

"It's unbelievable and I don't know what to think," Desert Vista coach Dan Hinds said before taking the podium to accept the golden ball trophy.

Hamilton entered No. 24 in the Xcellent 25 national football rankings presented by the Army National Guard.

The third-seeded Thunder (13-1) took the opening drive 51 yards that was finished off on fourth down when Jarek Hilgers scored from a yard out.

"We had extreme confidence that we were going to get the job done," Hinds said. "If we don't score, they take over on the 1 and our defense would do the job but we didn't have to worry about it."

Desert Vista senior fullback Mike Arredondo said the call had the huddle fired up.

"When the coaches said go for it we knew they had our backs and that we could get the job done," he said. "The offensive line did their part and we got it done."

Hamilton's first possession led to Desert Vista points as Matt Young intercepted Blake Kemp and returned it 44 yards for a 14-0 lead.

"I panicked and threw a ball I shouldn't have," Kemp said. "I should have taken the sack."

The Thunder scored on its next possession to build a 21-0 lead and led 21-7 at the half before pushing it to 31-7.

It was Desert Vista's second state title school history, matching the 1998 squad.

The Thunder played nearly flawlessly as they never punted, had only one turnover, didn't allow a sack and had only penalty.

"That's on the players," Hinds said. "We coach only coach so much and the rest is up to them. They came through in the biggest way possible."

Hamilton had won six of the last eight state titles.

"It seemed like we were outcoached and outplayed all over the field," Hamilton coach Steve Belles said.

Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), the nation's No. 1 team, now has the nation's longest current 11-man football win streak at 45 games.

SEE BRACKET


Desert Vista 45, Hamilton 19

Desert Vista                14        7          7          17        45
Hamilton                      0          7          7          13        19                  
 
                                    Desert Vista    Hamilton
First Downs                 20                    16
Rushes-Yards             41-184             20-74
Passing yards             177                  267
Comp-Att-Int               13-23-1           19-32-1
Fumbles-Lost              0-0                   0-0
Penalties-Yards          1-11                 9-82
 
Rushing
Desert Vista – Mike Arredondo 13-70-2, Dominic Kereluk 12-55-1, Kaleb Germinaro 5-30-1, Jarek Hilgers 7-28-1, Khalil Kennedy 1-4, Hunter Rodriguez 2-1, Matt Young 1-(-)4. Hamilton – Kendyl Taylor 3-24-0, Blake Kemp 6-23-0, Clayton Stanchik 5-16-0, Marcus Jones 5-12-0, Allen Thigpen 1-(-)1.
 
Passing
Desert Vista – Hunter Rodriguez 13-23-177-1-0, Hamilton – Blake Kemp 19-31-267-3-2, Allen Thigpen 0-1-0-0-0.
 
Receiving
Desert Vista – Matt Geranen 4-94-0, Shaw Loomer 4-31-0, Dominic Kereluk 2-9-0, Matt Young 1-21-0, Ryan Ortega, Cody Peterson 1-10-0. Hamilton – Kendyl Taylor 11-123-2, Just'n Thymes 4-109-1, Clayton Stanchik 2-13-0, Marcus Jones 1-13-0, Israel Simpson 1-9-0.
 
VITALS
With the roof open on a clear Saturday afternoon in Glendale, No. 3 Phoenix Desert Vista (13-1) upset top-seeded Chandler Hamilton (13-1), 45-19, in the Division I state championship at University of Phoenix Stadium.
 
HIGHLIGHT
Just a few plays after Jarek Hilger’ 1-yard touchdown run got Desert Vista on the board on the game’s opening drive, Matt Young picked off Hamilton’s Blake Kemp and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown. The rout was on.
 
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
* Desert Vista’s Mike Arredondo ran for 70 yards on 13 carries, while Matt Geranan caught four passes for 94 yards.

* Hamilton’s Kendyl Taylor caught 11 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns, although both of his touchdowns came when the game was well out of reach.
 
KEY STAT
Desert Vista did not punt once the entire game while Hamilton gave up the most points in the program’s history.
 
SCORING SUMMARY
DV – Hilgers 1 run (Goldfein kick) (1st, 6:41)
DV – Young 44 interception return (Goldfein kick) (1st, 5:49)
DV – Arredondo 1 run (Goldfein kick) (2nd, 7:46)
H – Thames 41 pass from Kempe (Wichman kick) (2nd, 5:14)
DV – Germinaro 21 run (Goldfein kick) (3rd, 2:57)
DV – Goldfein 41 field goal (4th, 9:07)
H – Taylor 4 pass from Kemp (4th, 7:46)
DV – Arredondo 10 run (Goldfein kick) (4th, 4:56)
H – Taylor 7 pass from Kemp (4th, 3:52)
DV – Kereluk 6 run (Goldfein kick) (4th, 2:16)

More Arizona title-game results

Division II
Chaparral (Scottsdale)  37, Cienega 14
Chaparral’s Davonte Neal scored three touchdowns as the Firebirds won their third straight championship.
After a scoreless first quarter, Cienega scored first after a special teams miscue before Neal went on his scoring binge.
 
Division III
Saguaro (Scottsdale) 31, Cactus 23
The Sabercats won its second straight state title, and for the fifth time in six seasons, when DJ Foster scored with 1:25 left in the third quarter for a 28-23 lead.
 
Division IV
Blue Ridge (Lakeside) 35, Show Low 14
Blue Ridge won its second title in the last three years – and coach Paul Moro’s 12 in 16 tries – by knocking off the team that beat them in the title game last season.
 
Division V
Yuma Catholic (Yuma) 21, Northwest Christian 19
In a title game rematch, Yuma Catholic was able to get the win this time around.