Three weeks ago -- Week 7 for Hamilton's football team - the Huskies were stinging from their first loss (only loss) of the season to Brophy Prep. Coach Mike Zdebski threw down the gauntlet after that loss and it worked quite well.

After a 6-0 start and that 27-14 loss to the Broncos, Hamilton has kicked into high gear. No win better than its 49-17 thrashing of Perry on Friday at John Wrenn Stadium. 

"We've learned a lesson from Week 7," Zdebski said. "The kids have grown from that loss. You either do or you don't. They have."

Hamilton followed the Brophy loss with a 42-0 win over Basha in Week 8 and had a bye last week - giving it two weeks to prepare for Perry. The preparation was pretty good looking at the outcome.

Hamilton, which has recovered nicely from last year's 3-7 campaign, dominated in all phases. The Huskies featured a balanced offense with better than 200 yards each rushing and passing. Standout wide receiver Brenden Rice hauled in three short touchdown passes (unofficially nine receptions for 141 yards). Running back Gabriel Armenta matched Rice for TDs with three and teamed up with Sebastian Dorman for the bulk of the 200-plus rushing yards. Quarterback Nick Arvay was solid as well completing 18 of 27 passes for 211 yards and the three TDs to Rice. Arvay also rushed for a score.

Defense for Hamilton wasn't lacking either. The Huskies had Perry quarterback Chubba Purdy running for his life much of the contest. Their secondary covered well grabbing two interceptions and broke up several passes and could have had another pick or two.

Purdy finished with arguably the worst passing game of his career (10 of 40 for 165 yards, one TD). Perry's two touchdowns were on a gadget play - double pass from Jorden Young to Purdy for 53 yards and Purdy's lone TD toss of 23 yards to Young. That TD was set up by a Hamilton fumble at the Huskies 37.

Hamilton's accomplishments from Friday's victory? First, the Huskies have given themselves a chance at winning the Premier Region. Hamilton is 8-1 overall and 2-1 in the region. It trails Chandler (9-0, 3-0 region), but if the Huskies conjur up a victory against the Wolves..... Well, yes, they'd be region champs.

Hamilton is also pretty much assured of being in the top 8 of the Open Division when the rankings are released Tuesday. The Huskies were #7 this week in the Open Division rankings.

Perry's destiny is in the 6A playoffs. The Pumas are 5-4 with its losses all to teams with no more worse than a 7-2 record (Pinnacle, Cesar Chavez, Chandler and Hamilton). Perry closes the regular season next week at home against Basha (4-5).