Mountain View (Mesa) currently owns the most biggest-class titles in state history with eight. In just its 13th year of existence, Hamilton already has six and shows no sign of slowing down.
"It's a credit to (original Hamilton coach) John Wrenn and (Principal Fred) DePrez for getting it going," said Belles, who took over the program in 2006. "I got the keys to a Mercedes and I'm just driving that sucker."
Desert Ridge (10-4) tested Hamilton like no team has this season. Riding an eight-game winning streak, the Jaguars matched the Huskies physically, outgaining them in total yards, 334-322 and held Hamilton to 105 yards rushing.
Desert Ridge quarterback
Jordan Becerra and running back
Joey Counts combined for 260 rushing yards.
"Their run game was almost unstoppable," Belles said.
Amazing when you consider Counts was vomiting along the sidelines in the third quarter.
"I left some of myself at Cardinals Stadium," he said. "I always eat Subway before the game so that was probably some ham and bread and stuff."
Christian Westerman is headed to
Texas next season.
File photo by Todd Shurtleff
Few outside the east Mesa campus gave the Jaguars any chance to hang with the Huskies.
"We had people doubting us all year," Counts said. "Especially on our own campus, there was a Hamilton bandwagon forming.
"But it's all about our love for each other. We played our hearts out in this one."
