Jared Cohen
After Hamilton knocked off Pinnacle back on week two this season in a hard fought game, all the Pioneers players said after was that they would see the Huskies again.
Pinnacle got what they wanted in round two of the division I tournament. However this time around the final score was not as close as the last as Hamilton used a 20 point third quarter to eliminate Pinnacle, 40-14.
Hamilton got off to a blazing start as quarterback Sam Sasso hit Elijah Williams for a 65 yard touchdown on the first play of the game. They held a 13-7 lead at halftime.
Pinnacle fought back like they have been fighting all year. Quarterback Brian Lewerke in the first drive of the second half connects with fellow junior Cules Rose who made one of the best catches of the season. Don’t believe me? Check the highlights! The touchdown was Rose’s second in the game and gave Pinnacle a 14-13 lead.
But it was all Hamilton from there. They would score 20 unanswered points including two touchdowns from running back Tyrell Smith. He had three for the game. Elijah Williams caught his second touchdown of the game in that span as well. A big reason behind the big spurt by the Huskies was because of two interceptions thrown in the third by Lewerke. One by Santana Sterling and the other by A.J. Greathouse. That damage was all Hamilton would need to secure the win.
They Huskies now move on to place a team that left a very bitter taste in their mouths earlier in the season. Their Arizona avenue rival Chandler who they fell to for the first time in 17 tries earlier in the year. Sasso said after the game that this is “What we wanted. We will be ready.”
The defending champion Huskies and Wolves meet for a trip to the state title next week in a game that will be played at Highland high school.
