Hamilton High is a few days away from playing in its eighth state championship football game in 12 years. In that span the Huskies are 5-2 and very close to chiming in at a perfect 7-0. One huge reason behind that success, and why Hamilton is bidding for a 5A-I threepeat at University of Phoenix Stadium on Monday afternoon against Desert Ridge, is defense.

With only three of six Mesa schools making the playoffs in football this season and all of them eliminated in the first round, basketball could not arrive fast enough.

Two-way Saguaro lineman Cyrus Hobbi was spent. Nagging physical aliments and fatigue had him collapsing often in the final minutes of Saturday\'s 4A-I football championship game with Canyon del Oro. But when time had expired do-everything quarterback Teddy Ruben had enough energy to play another 48 minutes. The diminutive Saguaro signal caller jumped and spun with joy knowing he and his teammates had snared a hard-fought, come-from-behind 41-34 victory over defending champ CDO at Sun Devil Stadium.

Chiefs knock Williams Field from unbeaten ranks, earn first crown in 38-year history of the school.

All-purpose player catches two TD passes, returns interception for a TD to help team advance to 5A-II title game.

For the first time in 25 years, a Gilbert district high school is going to play for a football championship. That school is eight-year-old Desert Ridge.

The sixth and final year of crowning a 4A-I football champion in the state is here. Two teams that have etched their names as champions four of five years previous get to finish out the era. Canyon del Oro, the defending champ, and Saguaro, which has won three of the five titles contested in the division since it was formed in 2005, meet Saturday afternoon at 3 at Sun Devil Stadium for the right to take home the final trophy.

Teams want to be playing their best football heading down the stretch. If winning streaks mean anything, that is exactly what Desert Ridge and Desert Vista high schools are doing at present. Desert Ridge (9-3), the No. 10 seed, takes on Desert Vista (10-2) Friday night at 7 at Mesquite High in one of the 5A-I semifinal games. The winner advances to face the Hamilton-Mountain Pointe winner on Dec. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium.

They can make a huge difference in where the opponent starts its drive.

Class 5A Divisions I and II are particularly wide open.

Teddy Ruben has amassed 4,611 yards rushing and passing this season and D.J. Foster almost 2,000 rushing and receiving. Between injuries, Ka\\\'Deem Carey has still managed 1,582 yards rushing and quarterback Jason McBrayer chimes in with a tad over 2,000 yards rushing and passing. There is little doubt offense will shine Saturday in the 4A-I football championship game at Sun Devil Stadium between Ruben\\\'s Saguaro Sabercats and Carey\\\'s Canyon del Oro Dorados. But talking to most people involved at Tuesday\\\'s 4A-I championship game press conference, defense was a hot topic and what many feel will be the deciding factor in their second meeting this season.