Even though Hamilton defeated Desert Ridge last year in the 5A-I state championship game, Huskies coach Steve Belles took more than the win (21-13) from that outcome prior to Friday night's regular-season rematch with Desert Ridge.

"I looked at that film 10 or 20 times this week," Belles said. "They took it to us. I reminded them they needed to be ready to play smash-mouth football."

"Them" was this year's Hamilton team, which returned only two starters. On both sides of the ball Friday, Hamilton was the winner playing a complete game in posting a 28-6 win over the host Jaguars in a battle of Division I unbeatens.

Hamilton's offense was led by quarterback Blake Kemp, who through the first three games this season had some trouble spots. That was mainly in the form of six interceptions thrown. Kemp did none of that in the rematch, his first shot at Desert Ridge since he was the Huskies backup last season.

Kemp accounted for 332 yards of offense -- 203 passing and 129 rushing. He scored three short rushing touchdowns and did not throw an interception. Kemp was extremely accurate, completing 20-of-23 attempts. Most were short passes.

Belles was more than pleased with Kemp's play in what easily was his best effort as a starter. But the defense seemed to be what Belles like most. And one can't blame him.
 

Hamilton limited Desert Ridge to 108 yards on offense through three quarters. While the scoreboard didn't say shutout, Desert Ridge's only touchdown came on the defensive side late in the first quarter when Kemp was stripped of the ball by Damani Moseby. Teammate Trevor Ramero scooped and scored from 25 yards out.

Desert Ridge's playmakers were kept in check all night. Jordan Becerra had only five touches for 21 yards. Becerra entered the game with nearly 400 yards rushing and receiving. Quarterback Parker Rasmussen was often pressured when throwing and the Huskies secondary was step for step with receivers Zach Davis and Becerra. Davis caught two passes for 41 yards. Davis had 15 receptions for 192 yards prior to Friday. Rasmussen completed 6-of-27 for  121 yards.

"This was as big a regular season win as I've had here," Belles said. "That includes the Chandler games and Brophy games.... We played solid defense, did enough offensively. Our guys were really motivated."

Hamilton never trailed in the rematch. The Huskies took the opening kickoff and marched 70 yards in five plays for a 7-0 lead with 10:24 left in the quarter. Kemp's 13-yard run capped the drive, which opened with a 40-yard pas play from Kemp.

Kemps's second TD run with 3:32 left in the firt half made it 14-6. It was a 56-yard drive with Kempe accounting for 48 of the yars running or throwing.

The outcome was cemented after Kemp's 11-yard TD run on the first play of the fourth quarter. At that point Desert Ridge's defense had been on the field way too long and Hamilton's defense just hungry for more stops.

Marcus Jones capped the scoring with a 19-yard run with 2:47 to play after Desert Ridge turned the ball over on downs.