Watching Hamilton play in the big-school state championship football game for the fourth straight year and eighth time in the last nine gets old to many fans. For Hamilton players who get their turn after watching and cutting their teeth a bit, it's their opportunity to contribute on the field.

Hamilton's bid for a fourth straight big-school title and nation-best 54th consecutive win comes Saturday against Desert Vista with a 2:07 p.m. kickoff at University of Phoenix Stadium. It will be the second meeting this season between the teams. Hamilton won at Desert Vista on Oct. 6, 35-10.

One of those players getting a chance to perform in the limelight is Hamilton quarterback Blake Kemp. Many of Hamilton's quarterbacks only get a one full season to lead the Huskies. Kemp has made the most of his chance and cherishes the moment coming his way Saturday.

"I guess I can understand people like to see different teams," Kemp said. "We don't worry about that. For guys like me it's a chance to keep our success going. There is a little pressure to it. You don't want to be that guy that loses it or doesn't play well. I've felt ready for this from the playing time and practice I got last year."

Kemp has proven that. He's passed for 2,580 yard and 24 touchdowns this season. Thrown just seven interceptions and only one since early September. In the previous win over  Desert Vista, Kemp passed for 269 yards and three TDs 

In several games last year, Kemp received anywhere from a half to a quarter of playing time in blowouts. He came off the bench in primetime for injured Kyren Poe in helping engineer a midseason win over Salpointe. Kemp also played some tight end and special teams last year, allowing him to acquire that game-feel.

"I got some good experience last year," Kemp said. "Another thing is since we're not playing both ways, I got a lot of reps in practice every week. That helped a lot."

Hamilton coach Steve Belles believes even if his players didn't have a starting or major role on the field the year before, the preliminary stuff that goes along with a big venue is eased the second time around.

"When those kids step on the field with their chance, they are not in awe," Belles said. "They've been at the stadium. Gone through warmups. Been in the locker room. They don't have to get used to all the stuff that comes with the venue."

Hamilton (13-0), playing in its ninth championship game in 13 years, will be facing its seventh different opponent in a final in Desert Vista. Hamilton is 6-2 in championship games. The Huskies have beaten Mountain View twice, Mountain Ridge, Brophy, Mesa High and Desert Ridge. The've lost to Red Mountain and Brophy.

Desert Vista's forte is running the ball. Stopping or neutralizing that is Hamilton's focus. They Thunder attack the opposition with four backs -- Dominic Kereluk, Mike Arredondo, Kaleb Germinaro and Jarek  Hilgers. They've combined for almost 2,600 yards, led by Kereluk with 828.

"You have to be prepared for everything, but we have to take away the run first," Belles said. "They haven't changed a lot of what they do since we played the first time. They can run and throw. But they'd rather run it.."

Desert Vista (12-1) is back in the title game for the second time in coach Dan Hinds' tenure. The Thunder last played for the title in 2007 and fell to Brophy. Desert Vista  won its first six games of the season and has matched that streak again after the Oct. 6 loss to Hamilton.

"This team had a lot of expectations at the beginning of the year and one is to be where we are (Saturday)," Hinds said. "This team is more prepared than any team I've ever coached. Preparation has been a focus and the strength of this team all season."

Hinds concedes Hamilton took the running game away from his team in the previous meeting. He also knows the Thunder must eliminate the big play, which hurt them  in the passing game the last time around.

Desert Vista, which has one state title to its credit (1998), is banking on a full-throttle approach this week. The week prior to playing Hamilton the first time, the Thunder had rallied from a 28-6 deficit to beat Saguaro, 31-28.

"That was a big game with Saguaro and a very emotional one the way we won it," Hinds said. "You never want to think you'd have a letdown going in to a week playing Hamilton, but I really sensed that that week. We didn't play great ,and they beat us pretty good."

Hamilton brings offensive balance as usual. The Huskies have several options on the ground with six players rushing for 200 yards or more -- none for more than 651. Hamilton's best weapon is University of Washington-bound Kendyl Taylor, who has 1,004 yards receiving and 14 TDs and is the team's second-leading rusher with 554 yards.