Highland quarterback Gage Dayley directed his team to a 6A state title victory against Chaparral. Photos by Bailey Warren/azpreps365.com.

After a first round postseason victory, Highland senior leader Gage Dayley made a promise. 

“Last year we got to state for the first time in school history," he told azpreps365.com. "This year will be our first state championship.”

Dayley fulfilled the promise Saturday afternoon at Sun Devil Stadium with a 31-10 win over Chaparral, avenging last season's heartbreak to the Firebirds in the 6A Conference championship game. 

The senior threw just one incompletion, and four of his 13 completions were touchdown passes to go along with 234 yards passing. Two of those scores went to senior running back Steven Trujillo, including the final one to put the Hawks up for good. 

“At the end of spring ball I felt that this was possible,” Dayley explained. “Things just started coming together and I think we knew we had a good unit. This season we just did our thing. I’ve been saying this since the start of the season. This is the first one in school history. We are pumped.”

Dayley and the Hawks started the season 6-0 and looked like an Open playoff hopeful.

A tough three game stretch against the top three Open seeds left Highland at 6-3 and eventually without an Open berth. Despite that, the Hawks found themselves as the No.1 seed in 6A with an opportunity to finish what they had started.

They did just that, finishing on a five game win streak and Highland's first state championship in school history. 

“These seniors finished what they started,” Highland head coach Brock Farrel said. “I think having to play the schedule we did and playing in big games was nothing new because these kids were ready for this. In April I knew the team we had was going to get this done. Every practice and lifting class we had they took seriously, and they did everything that winners do.”

Farrel has been the head coach of the Hawks since 2017 and has led the program to the playoffs every season.

A three year varsity starter, Dayley finished his Highland career with 5,629 yards passing, 64 total touchdowns and a championship ring.