Youth
www.SanTanSun.com
Oct. 20 – Nov. 2, 2012
29
Hamilton reigns supreme after rough start by Brent Goodrich
LEAD DOGS: Hamilton’s standouts this season include, from left, Luke Parrish, AJ Thigpen, Patrick Joseph, Cole Luke, Qualen Cunningham, Frankie Felix and Casey Tucker. STSN photo by Miachelle Depiano
How soon they forget. Hamilton started the season surprising many with two losses, and observers began writing the Huskies off as a statetitle contender. Just seven weeks later, many of those same observers are tabbing Hamilton as a strong favorite to claim its seventh state championship in 10 years. The Huskies rebounded from the rough start with five consecutive wins including back-toback wins over rival Chandler and Desert Vista, who stopped Hamilton’s 53-game win streak in last season’s Division I state championship game. For coach Steve Belles, now in his seventh year with the Huskies, the improvement in his team’s play comes down to a simple fact. “When you’re minus seven in turnovers like we were the first two games, you’re not going to win many ball games. The biggest difference is we’re protecting the football and playing good defense.” The Huskies defense, which starts seven juniors and a sophomore, played more aggressively in recent weeks, Belles says. Leading the youthful unit are a pair of seniors, all-state cornerback Cole Luke and linebacker Luke Parrish. Luke matches up against the opponent’s top receiver and is also seeing playing time on offense, while Parrish tops the team in tackles. Linemen Qualen Cunningham, a junior, and Caleb Peart, a sophomore, see Hamilton page 30
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