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Steve Belles refused to take credit for Chandler Hamilton's unprecedented prep football success.
"I got the keys to a Mercedes," he said. "I'm just driving that sucker."
Belles' modesty was a hard sell after the Huskies won their third straight Class 5A Division I state championship Monday at University of Phoenix Stadium with a 21-13 victory over Mesa Desert Ridge.
Hamilton is the first school in Arizona's biggest classification to accomplish the feat. The Huskies also have won 40 straight games since a loss to Peoria Centennial in 2008, tying them with Mesa Mountain View for the longest streak in 5A history.
"I've played here four years and I've lost one game," Texas bound offensive tackle Christian Westerman said. "That tells you what this program is all about."
But only in a snapshot. In that respect, Belles is right.
Hamilton has been the state's best program the past three seasons. But in capturing their sixth title in just 13 seasons, the Huskies (15-0) are rapidly closing on Mountain View's 5A-leading eight titles.
How long before Hamilton is considered the best program 5A has ever seen?
"It's a credit to (original Hamilton coach) John Wrenn and (Principal Fred) DePrez for getting it going," Belles said. "They laid the groundwork."
Critics will contend that Hamilton's success has been built on Arizona's generous open enrollment laws. Several of the Huskies' state championship rosters have boasted players who began their careers in other school districts, only to transfer in before their ninth grade year (allowable under current Arizona Interscholastic Association rules), or move within Hamilton's boundaries during their high school careers.
There's little doubt that if Hamilton played with just the kids who grew up in its neighborhood, its success would be diminished.
But nobody has proven that Hamilton is skirting the rules. And a lot of other schools have the same rules at their disposal so the Huskies must be accepted for what they are: the state's dominant program in the newly fashioned world of prep football.
"They're a terrific program and I give them all the credit in the world," Desert Ridge coach Jeremy Hatchcock said.
Hatchcock earned a measure of respect as well on Monday. Nobody gave the Jaguars a chance to hang with Hamilton.
"We had people doubting us all year," running back Joey Counts said. "Especially on our own campus, there was a Hamilton bandwagon forming."
But Desert Ridge (10-4) did more than compete. It had a chance to win thanks to a punishing running game and a physical defense that limited Hamilton to 105 rushing yards.
Riding an eight-game winning streak, Desert Ridge outgained Hamilton 334-322 with 268 of those yards coming on the ground from Counts and starting quarterback Jordan Becerra.
"We had to believe," Becerra said.
Mental errors led to Desert Ridge's downfall, particularly an ill-fated decision by Hatchcock. With his team trailing 7-3 and facing a 4th-and-2 at midfield late in the first half, Hathcock opted to go for it.
The play was supposed to be a quick catch-and-throw between second quarterback Parker Rasmussen and receiver Paris Clark where Counts was supposed to run off the safety. But Counts stayed in the zone, Rasmussen held the ball too long and Huskies defensive back Reggie Daniels intercepted a low throw and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown.
Instead of trailing 7-3 and believing they belonged on the field with Hamilton, Desert Ridge entered the locker room trailing 14-3.
The play was similar to a pick-6 Mesa threw in the 2009 5A-I title game against Hamilton just before the half, allowing Hamilton to pull away.
"I watched Mesa do it last year," Hathcock said. "I said I'd never do it and I did it. If I don't make that bonehead call."
Trailing 21-13 late in the fourth quarter, Desert Ridge had one last gasp. The Jags converted a 4th-and-14 and drove to the Huskies' 36-yard line.
But on 4th-and-17, Rasmussen scrambled and ran when Hathcock wanted him to throw. He came up seven yards shy of as first down allowing Hamilton to celebrate a first.
"We made history," Belles said.
At this rate, the Huskies will rewrite history in short order.
