Either Chandler Hamilton or Phoenix Brophy has won the Class 5A or 5A-I state football championship the past six years. They are the favorites to reach that pinnacle again this year. But for one half, the season’s most anticipated game looked like a dud. 
Peter Kelly, Brophy Prep
File photo by Jed Strahm
Chandler Hamilton quarterback Travis Dean had a pair of touchdown runs, running back Zach Bauman added another, and the Huskies defense kept Phoenix Brophy bottled up in its own end of the field while grabbing a 21-0, halftime lead. An overhyped mismatch?
"We really had everything going in that first half," Hamilton coach Steve Belles said.
So did Brophy — in the second half. Alex Garoutte’s 16-yard interception return for a score put the finishing touches on a 21-point rally that pulled the Broncos (6-2, 3-1 region) even with 10:40 left.
"We were on the other end of that situation where we rallied a few weeks ago against Chandler, and I'll tell you, one of the toughest things to do in sports is when you lose momentum, it's tough to get it back," Belles said. "We just showed our character."
Making his first varsity start, Hamilton defensive back Mike Monroe intercepted Brophy quarterback Chase Knox twice in the final seven minutes, and the Huskies (8-0, 3-1) gutted out a late drive that ended in Yannick Metz’s 40-yard, game-winning field goal in a 24-21 decision.
"The key for us on that last drive was just getting first downs and getting back into a kind of rhythm," Belles said.
If these teams meet again in the state title game, the foundation has been laid for another classic.
Other top storylines from the week
2.
Bad news: The Arizona Interscholastic Association placed Laveen Cesar Chavez's football program on probation on Oct. 19 for a recruiting violation. The ruling renders the team ineligible for the Class 5A Division I playoffs this season, though it will not forfeit any games. The probation was the result of a Phoenix North player who did not transfer. That player, one of three who was alleged to have contact with Chavez coach Jim Rattay, wrote a letter detailing his contact with Rattay. Chavez is currently second in the Class 5A-I power rankings, which determine seeding for the state playoffs. The school is appealing the decision.
3. Good news: On the flip side of Cesar Chavez’s probation was Tucson Pusch Ridge. The AIA overturned an earlier ruling (on appeal) and ruled last week that Pusch Ridge would not have to forfeit any of its three wins. Pusch Ridge celebrated with a 61-8 win over San Carlos in which quarterback Greg Schimke tossed six touchdown passes, three to Chris Goodwillie. The Lions (7-1) will be in the 2A playoff field.
4. Mingus dynasty? Watch out for Class 4A-II’s Cottonwood Mingus. The Marauders (we really love that mascot) have held four straight opponents to seven points or less, including last week’s 65-2 rout of Flagstaff Sinagua. Mingus (8-0, 4-0 Grand Canyon Region) also took care of 4A-I heavyweight Apache Junction earlier this season. Mingus coach Bob Young is one of the best in the business.
5. Record setters: Phoenix Xavier’s golf team broke the national girls prep record with its 145th consecutive match victory on Oct. 21. The Gators scored 149, beating Gilbert Highland. The national record had been held by Henderson (Nev.) Green Valley from 1992-2004. Xavier’s record began in 1996.
The Fab 5
1. Darrion Murphy, Phoenix Trevor Browne, Sr., RB: Had 295 of his team’s 303 rushing yards in a 48-6 win over Phoenix Alhambra. If that weren’t impressive enough, check out how he did it. On his first four carries, Murphy had a 37-yard touchdown run, a 9-yard TD run, an 87-yard TD run and a 77-yard TD run. Later, he added an 87-yard run for another score. He had just nine carries.
2. Brett Hundley, Chandler, Jr., QB: Ran for 176 yards and threw for 145 in a 29-22 victory over Phoenix Desert Vista. His 31-yard scoring pass with two seconds left was the game winner.
3. Colby Kirkegaard, Phoenix Arcadia, Sr., QB: Completed 12-of-14 passes for 265 yards and four TDs in a 65-24 rout of Chandler Seton Catholic.
4. Mike Monroe, Chandler Hamilton, Jr.; DB: His two fourth-quarter interceptions snuffed Brophy's rally.
5. Ryan Stanford, Phoenix Horizon, Jr., QB: Threw for 346 yards and four TDs without a pick in a 42-20 win over Phoenix North Canyon.
On deck
The best game in 5A-I is a non-region affair pitting No. 3 Chandler against No. 7 Mesa Mountain View. In 4A-I, No 3 Apache Junction hosts No. 4 Scottsdale Saguaro… The Class 3A schedule this week is awash in games that could decide region titles. In the East, No. 1 Lakeside Blue Ridge (8-0, 4-0) hosts No. 5 Eagar Round Valley (6-2, 3-1). In the West, No. 2 Goodyear Estrella Foothills (9-0, 5-0) travels to No. 6 Wickenburg (9-0, 5-0), in the South, No. 7 Fountain Hills (7-2, 5-0) hosts No. 3 Tucson Empire (9-0, 5-0) and in the North, No. 9 Winslow (8-1, 5-0) hosts Kayenta Monument Valley (4-5, 4-1)... The 1A postseason continues with quarterfinal action as Bagdad hosts Fort Thomas; St. David hosts Heber Mogollon; Elfrida Valley Union meets Joseph City; and Orme goes to Duncan… The 4A and 5A state team badminton tournaments begin Saturday at sites around the Valley. The top seed in 5A is Phoenix Xavier. The top seed in 4A is Phoenix Sunnyslope.
Recruiting news
The Arizona Republic reported that Chandler junior quarterback Brett Hundley said Tuesday he received a hand-written letter from a University of Arizona coach expressing interest. So far the only offer he has received is from Colorado, but Hundley said he talked to a UCLA coach recently, and that Duke, Oregon and Stanford all have shown strong interest… Phoenix Brophy senior John Wojciechowski gave Michigan a commitment to swim there. Wojciechowski holds the state record in the 100-yard butterfly. Based on invitationals, he is ranked No.1 in Arizona… Mesa Mountain View senior point guard Jennifer Schlott gave Utah State a commitment to play basketball. Schlott averaged 14 points and six assists last season.
Craig's cranium
I’m a late convert. For years, I ridiculed the 4A schools that claimed they could hang with 5A’s elite, and even the Division II teams that said they were as good as the Division Is. By and large, I was right. Up until a few years ago, the gap between those teams was wide, but that gap has closed. Class 5A-II powerhouse Peoria Centennial started the trend by beating 5A-I’s Chandler Hamilton last season. Others have followed suit.
The most surprising one, for me, came when 5A-II’s Scottsdale Chaparrral throttled 5A-I Mesa Mountain View, 42-10, earlier this season. The Toros are not as strong as in years past, but to fall to a Scottsdale school used to be a laughable notion for the state’s most decorated big-class program. Now Division II teams are regularly knocking off Division Is.
Which got me thinking. Wouldn’t it be great to hold an all-class state championship? Or at least combine classifications to see who the best big-school and small-school teams are? You could take the 5A-I, 5A-II, 4A-I and 4A-II champs and play two extra weeks to determine a big-class winner. Or just determine a 5A and 4A champ. For the smaller schools, all you’d need is one week for the 2A and 3A champs to meet.
Of course, this will never happen for legitimate logistical reasons. But you can’t fault a guy for dreamin’.
Craig Morgan is a freelance writer who has covered professional, college and high school sports in the Phoenix area for the past 17 years. He currently covers the Arizona Cardinals and other pro and college teams in Arizona for CBSSports.com. He also writes a weekly column and other features for The Arizona Republic. You can reach him at craig@thewordsmithonline.com.
