Football Powerhouse, Hamilton Huskies
- Jonathan Olden
- Oct 29
- 2 min read
This past week, Hamilton went head to head against the nationally ranked Basha Bears. This matchup was highly anticipated, as both schools were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the state. MaxPreps selected it as the county’s Game of the Week! We were all expecting to see a close battle featuring four-star talents Noah Roberts, Jake Hildebrand, and Brodie Vehrs on Basha’s offense, and Jax Sculley, Roy Oliver III, and Niko Jandreau on Hamilton’s side. This was going to be a game of grit. What we didn’t expect was an injured Brodie Vehrs and a one-sided offensive showcase by Hamilton.
To start off the game, Hamilton’s first offensive drive was stopped just short of the end zone. Basha got the turnover but quickly hit the Huskies’ defensive wall. Mikey Barth punted the ball downfield, where Roy Oliver III returned it 59 yards for a touchdown. Roy Oliver III is becoming a name to know not only in Arizona but across the nation. He didn’t stop there, as he went on to score two more touchdowns. After this game, Roy Oliver III set a new AIA 6A season record for touchdown receptions with 25. The young duo of Jax Sculley and Roy Oliver III is one we’ve never seen before in Arizona football. With both being sophomores and plenty of football ahead of them, Hamilton clearly has much more to show.
Now let’s talk about the Bears. All season long, Basha has thrived on its running game with Noah Roberts and Joshua Gaines. Both running backs, combined with a stacked offensive line, have bulldozed through nearly every defense they’ve faced. Roberts finished with 10 carries for 56 yards, while Gaines added 9 carries for 41 yards. The question now is what happened when it came to finishing drives. The Bears fell short on execution. With Hamilton recording 7 total sacks from 5 different defenders, the Huskies’ defense was simply too overwhelming. Unfortunately for Basha, they lost Brodie Vehrs to a collarbone injury and had to bench him. Jake Rogers entered the game in the third quarter and performed well, but it wasn’t enough to slow Hamilton’s momentum.
This was a game defined by confidence and momentum, both of which Hamilton carried from the very beginning. With their powerful duo, tough defense, and relentless grit, we’re excited to see what Hamilton will bring this postseason as they are now No. 20 in the nation.
Comments