The Liberty High School varsity football team from Peoria, AZ, will face off against the Hamilton Huskies from Chandler, AZ, in a home playoff game today at 6 PM. This exciting matchup is part of the 2024 AIA State Football Championships (Arizona) – Open Division tournament, promising an intense battle on the field.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: Arizona State High School Football Playoff
Who: Hamilton vs Liberty
When: Today, November 30, 2024
Bracket: 2024 AIA State Football Championships (Arizona) – Open Division
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Live stream: Watch Here

Game Preview: Liberty vs. Hamilton: A High-Stakes Showdown in Arizona High School Football

The 2024 AIA State Football Championships (Arizona) – Open Division tournament continues to deliver electrifying matchups, with Liberty High School (Peoria, AZ) hosting Hamilton High School (Chandler, AZ) in a critical playoff game today at 6 PM. Both teams enter the contest with impressive 10-1 records, making this a must-watch battle between two of Arizona’s top high school football programs.

Team Performance Overview

Hamilton
Ranked 5th in Arizona and boasting a 10-1 overall record, the Hamilton Huskies have been strong competitors throughout the season. With a win percentage of .909, Hamilton has proven its dominance, especially with a perfect 5-0 home record. Their offense has put up 402 points this season, averaging 36.5 points per game. Despite strong performances in every quarter, their second-quarter output (10.2 points) stands out as a key strength.

Liberty
Liberty has enjoyed an outstanding season, sitting at number 1 in Arizona and 45th nationally. Like Hamilton, the Lions also hold a 10-1 record and have been perfect in sectional play with a 4-0 record. Liberty’s offense has been even more explosive, putting up 482 points—averaging 43.8 points per game. Their ability to score quickly, particularly in the first and third quarters (14.3 and 12.0 points, respectively), has been one of their standout features.

Key Matchup Factors

1. Offensive Firepower: Liberty’s higher scoring average and dynamic playmaking ability give them an edge, but Hamilton’s efficient offense can keep the game close.
2. Defensive Challenges: While Liberty has allowed 228 points and Hamilton 216, both teams will need to tighten up defensively as the stakes rise.
3. Quarterly Performance: Liberty’s ability to generate fast starts, especially in the first quarter, could prove critical against a Hamilton team that tends to ramp up as the game goes on.

As the high school football season heads into its final stretch, two of Arizona’s top teams, Hamilton and Liberty, have emerged as major contenders. With identical 10-1 records and impressive individual performances, these teams are set to make noise in the postseason. Here’s a detailed comparison of their team statistics and key players, offering insights into their strengths and areas of focus.

Team Stat Comparison

Both Hamilton and Liberty boast exceptional statistics, with each team excelling in different areas. Here’s how they stack up across several key metrics:

• Rushing Yards: Hamilton leads with an average of 162.8 rushing yards per game, while Liberty averages 148.5 yards. Hamilton’s ground game seems to be a more prominent part of their offensive strategy.
• Passing Yards: Liberty edges Hamilton out in passing, with 273.9 yards per game compared to Hamilton’s 264.0 yards. Both teams have effective passing attacks that help diversify their offenses.
• Receiving Yards: The receiving stats mirror the passing stats, with Liberty totaling 273.9 yards per game, and Hamilton closely following with 266.2. This highlights both teams’ ability to stretch the field and make big plays in the air.
• Total Yards: Both teams are offensive juggernauts, with Hamilton averaging 426.8 total yards per game, slightly ahead of Liberty’s 422.5. These figures show that both teams have high-powered offenses capable of moving the ball efficiently.
• Tackles: Hamilton’s defense is slightly more active, averaging 84.3 tackles per game compared to Liberty’s 61.3. This could suggest Hamilton’s defense has been more involved, possibly due to the nature of their game plans or opposing offensive strategies.
• Sacks: Liberty has the upper hand in sacks per game, averaging 4.4 compared to Hamilton’s 2.7. This indicates that Liberty may have a more aggressive pass rush, which could disrupt opposing quarterbacks.
• Points Per Game: Liberty also leads in scoring, averaging 43.4 points per game, compared to Hamilton’s 36.2. Liberty’s ability to put up big numbers on the scoreboard is a testament to their explosive offense.

Individual Team Leaders

The success of both teams can be attributed to standout players across the board. Here are the leaders for each team:

• Rushing Yards: Hamilton’s #22 Jacob Brown leads with 82.1 rushing yards per game, while Liberty’s #24 Esteban Demby-Lamas averages 55.0 yards per game. Hamilton’s ground game features a more prominent running back, who plays a central role in their offensive scheme.
• Passing Yards: Hamilton’s quarterback, #15 Rich Lucero Jr., averages 249.2 passing yards per game, while Liberty’s #10 Hayden Fletcher slightly outpaces him with 252.5 yards per game. Both quarterbacks have shown consistency and ability to move the ball effectively through the air.
• Receiving Yards: For Hamilton, #10 Roye Oliver III leads the team with 79.8 receiving yards per game, while Liberty’s #17 Braxton Huynh is the top receiver with 86.4 yards per game. Both teams have a primary receiving weapon who consistently makes plays in the passing game.
• Total Yards: Hamilton’s Rich Lucero Jr. also leads in total yards, with 277.4 yards per game, while Liberty’s Hayden Fletcher totals 268.5 yards per game. This shows both quarterbacks are not only prolific in the passing game but also contribute significantly to their teams’ overall yardage.
• Tackles: Hamilton’s top tackler is #7 Beau Jandreau with 14.2 tackles per game, while Liberty’s #8 Brody Johnson leads with 8.0 tackles per game. Hamilton’s defense appears to be more reliant on a few key players to anchor their defense.
• Sacks: Hamilton’s #8 Ben Jones records 0.9 sacks per game, while Liberty’s #7 Hudson Dunn leads with 1.2 sacks per game. Liberty’s pass rush seems to be more effective, helping them get to opposing quarterbacks with greater consistency.
• Points Per Game: Hamilton’s #36 Jackson Swink contributes 7.6 points per game, while Liberty’s #9 Dominic Lombardo scores 9.3 points per game. Both players are key contributors to their teams’ scoring efforts.

Common Opponents

Both Hamilton and Liberty have faced similar opponents this season, and both teams have handled them with ease, further emphasizing their dominance. Here’s a look at their results against common opponents:

• Hamilton: Defeated Centennial 17-10 and Chandler 56-14.
• Liberty: Dominated Centennial 45-17 and Chandler 45-20.

These results show that both teams have been consistently strong against high-level competition, with Liberty outscoring their opponents by a slightly larger margin.

Record Breakdown

Both Hamilton and Liberty have identical overall records of 10-1, with similar success in both league and non-league play.

• Hamilton: 10-1 overall (3-1 in league, 6-0 in non-league).
• Liberty: 10-1 overall (4-0 in league, 5-1 in non-league).

Both teams have been perfect in non-league play, showing their ability to handle different types of competition. However, Liberty has a slightly stronger league record, going 4-0 in comparison to Hamilton’s 3-1.

Conclusion

As Hamilton and Liberty head into the postseason, the matchup between these two teams promises to be an exciting one. Hamilton brings a strong defensive presence and a balanced offensive attack, while Liberty boasts an explosive offense and aggressive pass rush. With both teams having similar records and key victories, it’s clear that this showdown will be a battle of titans. Fans can expect a highly competitive and thrilling game when these two powerhouses meet on the field.