Jared Cohen
The #1 Hamilton Huskies take on the #2 Chandler Wolves on Friday at 7pm from University of Phoenix Stadium. The Huskies are return to the state title game for the seventh consecutive year while the Wolves arrive for the first hoping for their first in school history.
Last Meeting: Chandler knocks off Hamilton 56-24 at Hamilton. Bryce Perkins had one of his best games of his high school career completing 24-29 for 407 yards and six touchdowns. Justin Jan caught ten of those passes for 160 yards and four touchdowns. Linebacker Tristen Vance had a game high 12 tackles in the game for Hamilton.
When Chandler is successful: They are moving the ball at a blistering pace. On two of the three touchdown drives against Mountain Pointe last week that got them up 21-0 early, they scored on three play drives or less. They have so many options offensively and have very little weakness and when they are running the ball well with Chase Lucas, they are pretty much unstoppable with how the run opens everything else up. On Defense, they are successful when the interior line is in control. JW Windsor and Thomas Chisholm have done a fantastic job filling big shoes after Cruz Flores and Jordan Hoyt graduated. They are key along with KT Tilini flying around at linebacker.
When Hamilton is successful: When the Hamilton offense is rolling, James Sosinski leads long, methodical drives that includes a heavy dose of Ari Johnson and Rico Tipton running it, Brandon Krcilek catching well run intermediate routes and Kyeler Burke making plays in space. When they execute, it’s hard to get the offense off the field and the way they operate can be very frustrating for a defense. Defensively, the line sets the tone for the Huskies as well. Caleb Peart and Garrett Rand are animals and two of the top in the state at their positions. Tristen Vance and David DeSilva are two of the most disciplined linebackers in the state. This defense has to slow down this Wolves attack and it will be up to the front seven to set the tone.
Key Matchup: Chandler WR Justin Jan vs Hamilton DB Morris Kroma. Justin Jan has had a remarkable, breakout 2014 season. He was an absolute monster the last time these two teams met and not long after, received his first offer from Colorado. Kroma has the state championship experience and he is the playmaker in the secondary for Hamilton. He is prone to have interceptions in big games which was seen vs Pinnacle early this season and against Brophy last week. Both are very athletic and it should be a fun matchup to keep an eye on.
