Co-written with Nik Pennington

Friday’s game had been the most anticipated game of the season since November, when the Mountain Pointe Pride fell one win shy of a state title.

None of that matters now.

After Friday’s 37-27 home win, the No. 1 team in Arizona and No. 11 in the nation, the Pride, remained undefeated at 6-0 after beating the team it lost to in last year’s Division I title game. The No. 2 Hamilton Huskies were given their first loss (4-1) of the season.

                   (Mountain Pointe's student body packed the school's stadium on Friday. Photo by Andrew Nicla/Mountain Pointe High School)

The Pride entered without talented running back/linebacker Wesley Payne and Hamilton without eight starters. But despite Payne’s absence, Mountain Pointe remained focused.

"Losing a guy like him (Payne), that's like losing two starters out there,” senior defensive end Charlie Trevino said. “But one guy doesn't make a team. We are a deep team, and we got a lot of guys who can play."

In the first half, the Pride cashed in on a mismatch that let Jalen Brown catch a big touchdown pass and an electrifying kick return from junior Paul Lucas. In all, the Pride put up 24 first half points while Hamilton managed 13.

The game seemed eerily similar to the state title game last year, however, this time it was in the Pride's favor.

The Pride’s sideline intensity carried into the locker room at halftime. During halftime, the Pride fiercely went over game plans and first half mishaps.

The Pride returned in the third quarter explosive as ever, with crisp passing by Antonio Hinojosa, leading to another Brown touchdown in the third quarter.

The steady ground attack of Hamilton would eventually find the end zone as well, making it a 10-point contest, but Hamilton had no remedy for the speed of Lucas.

When asked about his performance after the game, Lucas remained humble.

"It was all a team effort,” Lucas said. “We didn't worry about who scored. We just played for the win.”

The Pride showed serious conviction in rushing the passer Friday night.

The man who led them was none other than Trevino.

"I had a slow first half, but I got my mind right at the half and went out and executed, and it's just the greatest feeling in the world," Trevino remarked.

In the end the Pride played a solid all-around football game, proving that a key injury would not hold them back from victory.

                    (Mountain Pointe coach Norris Vaughan talks to his boys after Friday's big win. Photo by Andrew Nicla/Mountain Pointe High School)