High School Football in the News

Hamilton pummels Miami powerhouse

Jeff Wendt - Aug. 29, 2008 11:55 AM   The Arizona Republic

Chandler Hamilton went to Miami, Florida to open the 2008 season at the Miami Sports Kickoff Classic, where they faced one of the top teams from the state, Booker T. Washington. What Hamilton came away with was a convincing 37-19 victory over Booker T. Washington Friday night at the Nathaniel Traz Powell Stadium on the Miami-Dade College North Campus.

"I was very proud of the way our kids handled themselves tonight," Hamilton head coach Steve Belles said. "Not only did they handle themselves well on the field, but off the field as well The night belonged to running back Zach Bauman, who ran for 103 yards on 20 carries and scored four touchdowns.

Hamilton amassed 422 yards of total offense, and was only penalized three times for 20 yards. They also forced Booker T. Washington into three turnovers, two fumbles and an interception. Hamilton did not turn the ball over the entire game. "We were able to take advantage of two fumbles in the first half and turn them into touchdowns," Belles said.

Bauman got the scoring started for Hamilton on a 6-yard run, the first of two touchdowns in the first half, giving it a 7-0 lead. After Booker T. Washington scored to make it 7-6, Bauman again scored from 2 yards out to stretch the Hamilton lead to 14-6. A 27-yard field goal from Yannick Metz stretched the Hamilton lead to 17-12 at the half. The second half belonged to Hamilton, as they outscored Booker T. Washington 20-7 in the final two quarters for the victory.

"I felt if we could physically stay with them and we could stop them, and make enough plays, we could beat them," Belles said to his team at the half. They responded by opening the second half with a pair of Bauman touchdown runs, the first from a yard out, and the second from two yards to give Hamilton an insurmountable 30-12 lead.

"I thought our offensive line did great tonight," Belles said. "It was better than what I had expected coming into this game." Quarterback Zakary Hambsch was 10 of 16 passing for 209 yards and a touchdown, and Alante Wright had four receptions for 136 yards to lead Hamilton.

Belles was a little surprised at what he saw from Booker T. Washington Friday night. "I saw a fast team, faster than most teams we would face in Arizona," Belles said. "But they were not very disciplined." After this big victory by Hamilton, it has to come back and play host to No. 2 Phoenix Brophy Prep next week in a rematch of their 2007 Class 5A Division I semifinal, which Brophy won 24-14.  

"We have to be careful about this victory," Belles added. "We have to come back and play Brophy next week, we can't play with a chip on our shoulder. "We have to remember it is only the second game of the season. It is not a game what will make or break our season, but it does set the stage."