PHOENIX - For the third time in the last fifteen months, Liberty and Hamilton matched up on the gridiron with the state watching.

Unlike the first two matchups in north Peoria, this Open Division semifinal took place at the far from neutral site of Mountain Pointe High School on the border of Chandler, Tempe and Phoenix.

Even with a packed crowd of Husky fans in the visiting stands, the Lions dominated Hamilton for the second time. The 56-24 win that continued Liberty’s two year streak of running roughshod over Arizona teams.

“You can’t let someone else dictate how you play, you have to be able to play any style,” said Liberty Coach Colin Thomas.

To repeat as Open Division champs, which has only happened one other time in its six year history, #4 Liberty (11-1) must win a  matchup three years in the making.

Each of the last two seasons, Liberty was the #1 seed in the Open and Chandler Basha was #2. In 2022 Liberty was upset in the semifinals and Basha won the title. Last year Basha fell in the semis and Liberty won the Open.

These teams have familiarity with one another. In recent years these teams matched up in preseason scrimmages and three years ago they met in an open division quarterfinal with the Lions ending the Bears perfect season.

Kickoff for the Open Division final is at 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7 at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe. 

The Bears are led by 1,000-yard sophomore running back Noah Roberts who behind a talented offensive line have bulldozed teams almost all season. 

For Liberty, it’s the perfect matchup. The Lions boast the best defensive line in the state and will have to overpower the toughest Arizona opponent they have faced.

“We have to be physical up front and stop their run game which will help stop the pass game too, I’m confident in our defense to help us win,” senior defensive tackle Caden Branston said.

In this new era of transfers and instant gratification, Liberty senior quarterback Hayden Fletcher waited his turn behind all-state and current Arizona State quarterback Navi Bruzon.

The start to the Navi-less era wasn’t exactly flashy. In the Lions week one victory at Desert Edge, Liberty did not have a touchdown pass for the first time since its 2019 season opener. 

Since then, Fletcher has thrown for 32 touchdowns, five of which came Nov. 30 against a Hamilton defense that hadn’t conceded more than two touchdown passes in a game.

The offensive explosion started on the opening drive as Fletcher marched the offense down the field, finding junior tight end Kam Segall in the corner of the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown. 

That connection would continue its success on the next drive as the Lions used its signature “Run Pass Option” offense to set up a  13-yard Segall touchdown reception. It remained 14-7 to end the quarter.

While Fletcher attacked through the air, the running back duo of senior Dom Lombardo and sophomore Jayden Sanchez began to pick apart the Huskies front line.

Lombardo got things started early in the second quarter, running over two Hamilton defenders at the goal line to score his first of three touchdowns.

As Lombardo handled rushing duties, Sanchez who in recent weeks has become a pass catcher out of the back field broke open the game following a Husky field goal. He broke multiple tackles on a 38-yard touchdown reception to build a 28-10 lead.

As the offense held its own, a defense which had bounced back following a region game shootout against Pinnacle in early October continued its hot streak.

Leading the charge for defensive coordinator Travis Guiney on the evening was future Colorado State defensive tackle Branston and star junior defensive back Zeth Thues. 

“I think our strength is being flexible with what other teams do and I thought our guys did a really good job attacking,” said Thomas. 

Entering the game, Hamilton had averaged 229 rushing yards per game and 7.1 yards per carry across its previous three contests. 

In the first half, the Lions held dynamic junior running back Jacob Brown to 26 yards on eight carries.

“We wanted to try and stop the run and force them to open the playbook up and I think we did that early,” said Thues.

The interior of the defensive line anchored by Branston was leading the charge against the Huskies offensive line which couldn’t get a push all game long. Liberty's different blitzes and stunts confused the offense.

“We want to have a 1-0 mindset everyday and our coaches help with that by preparing us well in film and in practice for what we see in the game,” said Branston.

With the run game in check, the lone challenge came for the secondary, which improved following midseason matchups against Corona (Calif.) Centennial and Pinnacle.

Most of Hamilton’s offensive damage against the starting defense came on the opening drive of the game in which the secondary failed to wrap up. On the opening drive of the second half in which the same issue reared its head.

“I feel like we were doubted a little, we have great DB’s and we’re a great defense and it showed tonight for everyone to see,” said Thues.