Easton Stockford is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Hamilton High School for AZPreps365.com

SURPRISE — It is not an easy path to become No. 1 in anything. Holding that ranking carries a weight of its own. However, when teams bear the pressure that comes with being a top-seeded squad, often times they make winning look easy.

That was certainly the case for Arizona’s top-ranked high school football squad, Hamilton, which outclassed Valley Vista on the road en route to a commanding 59-0 win to open the Huskies’ 6A Fiesta Region schedule.

“It was a great opportunity for some of our young guys to get some work,” Hamilton coach Travis Dixon said. “Those guys compete and are doing a great job.”

Hamilton’s (6-0, 1-0 Fiesta) dominance was apparent from kickoff, as it scored on all seven of its first half possessions, including back-to-back touchdowns from four-star sophomore wide receiver Roman Oliver to open the game.

One of the young guns who had his hands all over the game was sophomore transfer wide receiver Jhay'mai “Sonny” Norwood, who punched in six points on a 55-yard screen pass and scored a punt return in the first half.

“Sonny got to get going for the first time this season,” said special teams coach Jake Arians. “He had to sit the first five weeks because of his transfer, and he did a heck of a job with the opportunity.”

But the Huskies’ commanding first half effort didn’t just come on the offensive side of the ball; it came on all three levels of play.

Hamilton’s special team’s unit, led by Arians, who is a former NFL placekicker and son of Super Bowl-winning coach Bruce Arians, combined for 21 points on consecutive plays in the opening half.

“I tell them that ‘A’ effort is not enough,” Arians said. “Excellence is demanded, and they are finally learning how to prepare for these games.”

Two punt returns from two different players also help spark the Huskies’ first half thrashing of the Monsoon (0-7, 0-2 Fiesta). Junior wide receiver Jordyn Black found the end zone after initially muffing a punt at the 45-yard line and Norwood’s 45-yarder.

Junior free safety Kacey Allen Jr. recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown which helped the Huskies to a 34-0 lead on three straight special teams scores — an area that has been much improved since Arians’ arrival.

“We are excited to have him,” Dixon said. “I think he has brought a lot to the table, and guys believe in what he is doing. You gotta be a special player to play on special teams.”

The Huskies’ defense was also torrent, preventing the Monsoon from moving the sticks the entire first half, despite not forcing any turnovers. The shutout marks their second of the season and first since Sept. 4th against Arbor View (Nevada).

“We just have to play like we know how to play,” said junior four-star cornerback Keaton Fields. “We have to continue to play at that level for the next few weeks.”

Hamilton now gears up for four straight weeks of Fiesta Region play starting next week when it heads to Pinnacle, looking to keep its record squeaky clean.

“We are healthy,” Arians said. “We shouldn’t need motivation at this point. We are 6-0, ranked No. 1 in the state with our biggest games coming up. Nothing else needs to be said.”