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: Liberty (AZ) vs Hamilton (AZ)
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

As the high school football season reaches its climax, two teams stand out as heavyweights in the state: Hamilton and Liberty. Both teams have posted impressive 10-1 records, demonstrating their dominance on both sides of the ball. With similar overall statistics but distinct strengths, this matchup is sure to be a thrilling contest as they head into the postseason.

Team Stat Comparison

Both Hamilton and Liberty are offensive powerhouses, with slight differences in their overall game statistics. Here’s a breakdown of how these two teams compare:

• Rushing Yards: Hamilton leads the rushing game, averaging 162.8 yards per game compared to Liberty’s 148.5 yards. This indicates that Hamilton leans more on their ground attack to wear down opposing defenses.
• Passing Yards: Liberty has the edge in the air, averaging 273.9 passing yards per game, while Hamilton records 264.0 yards. Both teams excel in their passing offenses, showing balanced, high-powered offensive schemes.
• Receiving Yards: Both teams show remarkable consistency in their receiving stats. Hamilton averages 266.2 receiving yards per game, while Liberty is just slightly ahead with 273.9 yards per game. This demonstrates both teams’ ability to stretch the field and make big plays in the passing game.
• Total Yards: Hamilton has a slight edge in total offensive production, averaging 426.8 yards per game, compared to Liberty’s 422.5 yards. Both teams rank highly in total yardage, reflecting their ability to generate consistent offensive drives.
• Tackles: Hamilton’s defense is slightly more active, averaging 84.3 tackles per game, compared to Liberty’s 61.3. This suggests Hamilton’s defense is involved more frequently, possibly due to a more aggressive defensive approach or a higher number of plays faced.
• Sacks: Liberty is the more aggressive team when it comes to getting to the quarterback, averaging 4.4 sacks per game, compared to Hamilton’s 2.7. This higher sack total could help Liberty disrupt opposing offenses and create turnovers.
• Points Per Game: Liberty also leads in scoring, averaging 43.4 points per game, compared to Hamilton’s 36.2. Liberty’s high-scoring offense shows their ability to execute in a variety of situations and put up big numbers when needed.

Individual Team Leaders

Both teams boast standout players who have driven their success this season. Let’s take a look at the key contributors on each side:

• Rushing Yards: Hamilton’s top rusher is #22 Jacob Brown, who averages 82.1 yards per game. Liberty’s leading rusher, #24 Esteban Demby-Lamas, trails slightly with 55.0 yards per game. Hamilton’s rushing game is a larger component of their offense, with Brown playing a pivotal role.
• Passing Yards: Hamilton’s #15 Rich Lucero Jr. leads the team with 249.2 passing yards per game, while Liberty’s #10 Hayden Fletcher slightly surpasses him with 252.5 yards per game. Both quarterbacks are highly efficient and capable of making big plays downfield.
• Receiving Yards: Hamilton’s leading receiver, #10 Roye Oliver III, averages 79.8 receiving yards per game, while Liberty’s #17 Braxton Huynh outpaces him with 86.4 yards per game. Both teams have go-to receivers who are capable of stretching the field and making critical catches.
• Total Yards: Hamilton’s Rich Lucero Jr. leads his team with 277.4 total yards per game, while Liberty’s Hayden Fletcher accounts for 268.5 total yards per game. Both players are central to their respective offenses and capable of generating significant yardage through both the air and on the ground.
• Tackles: Hamilton’s top tackler is #7 Beau Jandreau, with 14.2 tackles per game, while Liberty’s #8 Brody Johnson records 8.0 tackles per game. Hamilton’s defense relies on Jandreau’s leadership to anchor their unit.
• 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 appears more consistent, helping them put pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
• Points Per Game: Hamilton’s #36 Jackson Swink scores 7.6 points per game, while Liberty’s #9 Dominic Lombardo contributes 9.3 points per game. Both players are crucial in their teams’ offensive efforts, helping to drive scoring.

Common Opponents

Both Hamilton and Liberty have faced similar opponents this season, and both teams have shown their dominance in those matchups. Here’s a look at their results:

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

These victories highlight that both teams are capable of handling tough competition with ease, but Liberty has been more dominant in their wins, especially against common opponents.

Record Breakdown

With identical 10-1 records, Hamilton and Liberty are both poised for a strong postseason run. Their performance across league and non-league play is equally impressive, showing their consistency in all areas of the game.

• 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 nearly perfect in non-league play, with Hamilton going 6-0 and Liberty going 5-1. Hamilton’s one league loss came at the hands of a tough opponent, while Liberty was undefeated in league play.

Conclusion

The upcoming matchup between Hamilton and Liberty is set to be a thrilling battle between two of Arizona’s top high school football teams. Hamilton’s strong running game and active defense will be tested by Liberty’s explosive offense and aggressive pass rush. With both teams capable of putting up big numbers and making game-changing plays, this showdown promises to be a hard-fought, high-intensity contest. Fans can expect a nail-biting game as these two powerhouses compete for supremacy in the postseason.