Division I Championship
No. 1 Mountain Pointe vs. No. 3 Hamilton
What: Division I state championship
When: 12:07 p.m. Saturday
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium
TV: Fox Sports Arizona
Internet: AIA365.com
Records: Mountain Pointe 12-1; Hamilton 11-2
Mountain Pointe leaders: QB Antonio Hinojosa (133-217, 2,132 yards, 29 TD, 9 INT); RB Garette Craig (185 att., 1,552 yards, 18 TD; 30 rec., 458 yards, 6 TD); RB Thomas Warren (120 att., 901 yards, 13 TD); WR/DB Jalen Brown (65 rec., 1,221 yards, 18 TD; 4 INT); LB Wesley Payne (148 tackles, 2 INT); LB Landry Payne (82 tackles, 5 sacks).
Hamilton leaders: QB A.J. Thigpen; RB Frankie Felix; WR Izzy Simpson; DL Qualen Cunningham; DL Caleb Peart; LB Luke Parrish; LB Santana Sterling; DB Levi Sterling; DB Cole Luke.
Keys to the game
•Passing the test: Both teams want to and love to run, and both teams like to set up the passing game off fakes and play-action. Mountain Pointe’s Antonio Hinojosa has been solid in decision-making and reading coverages during these playoffs, while Hamilton’s A.J. Thigpen has struggled at times when kept in the pocket and forced to read progressions. The passing game that better succeeds will be the team that up points. That is, unless ...
•Turnover tirade: ... turnover margin will be huge in this game, not only in giving the other team extra possessions but for the potential of having short fields. Both defenses are so good that 10-. 12- or 14-play scoring drives are unlikely. Turnovers are always the top priority in games such as these, especially because these teams are so evenly matched on paper (and in the first meeting when Hamilton had the game won until a late fumble).
•Special teams: One or two big plays — offense, defense or special teams — matter in these games, and both have the potential in that “other” facet of the game. Cole Luke is an elite kick returner, while Hamilton did an excellent job of winning the field position battle against Desert Ridge in the semifinals with Thigpen’s punts and its coverage. Mountain Pointe better be on top of its coverage and blocking schemes.
Mountain Pointe
Offense
QB — Antonio Hinojosa
RB — Garette Craig
FB — Thomas Warren
WR — Jalen Brown
OL — Kenny Lacy
OL — Natrell Curtis
OL — Collin Lambdin
OL — Lucas Hunter
OL — Kyle Spight
WR — Dejhon Edwards
WR — Emmanuel Butler
Defense
DL — Kenny Lacy
DL — Natrell Curtis
DL — Charlie Trevino
DL — Trey Lauer
LB — Wesley Payne
LB — Landry Payne
LB — Aaron Blank
DB — Ciyre Simmons
DB — Trey Campbell
DB — Travonn White
DB — Jalen Brown
Specialists
K — Ryan Sheehan
KR— Garette Craig
P — Ryan Sheehan
PR — Travonn White
Hamilton
Offense
QB — A.J. Thigpen
RB — Kevin Walters
HB — Frankie Felix
WR — Izzy Simpson
OL — Casey Tucker
OL — Bryce Holland
OL — Gage Jones
OL — Davon Fanai
OL — Patrick Joseph
WR — Tyler Eggers
TE — Chad Nelson
Defense
DL — Qualen Cunningham
DL — Ethan Hendricks
DL — Brady Denton
DL — Caleb Peart
LB — Luke Parrish
LB — Santana Sterling
LB — Trevor Lane
CB — Cole Luke
FS — Juwan Jones
SS — Jalen Jenkins
CB — Levi Sterling
Specialists
K — Daniel Wichman
KR — Frankie Felix/Cole Luke
P — A.J. Thigpen
PR — Cole Luke
