Hamilton has everyone\\\'s number in football

November 1, 2010 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


What's bad about the numbers 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 16?

Nothing in most cases. However the teams in the 5A-I state football playoffs that begin Nov. 12 and have any of those numbers attached to them must face Hamilton at some point if they are to reach the championship game of their respective divisions.

Heading to regular-season finales this Thursday or Friday, the unlucky possessors of those numbers that could face Hamilton in 5A-I are (in numerical order): Desert Vista, Mountain Pointe, Red Mountain, Chandler, Mountain View, St. Mary's and Brophy.

Desert Vista, Mountain Pointe, Red Mountain and Chandler are the only teams that might hang with Hamilton on a four-turnover-Hamilton night / no-turnover-night on their part. Hamilton has beaten three of those four teams already -- Mountain Pointe is the only one the Huskies haven't  faced.

The team with the best chance to knock off Hamilton, provided quarterback Brett Hundley is 100 percent healthy, is Chandler. Although the last two times Hamilton faced Hundley, he was bottled up, even confounded by the Huskies' defense. Hamilton prevailed with ease both times.

So when the playoff brackets are presented this Saturday morning, take a look at the 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15 portion of the bracket -- the bottom half. One of those eight teams will face the Huskies for the 5A-I title on Dec. 13. And whoever it is, they will need every break, turnover and bounce go their way to end what on that day may be the Huskies seeking a 40th consecutive victory and 5A-I three-peat.