Jayden Nance is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication student assigned to cover Pinnacle High School for AZPreps365.com.

CHANDLER -- Hamilton remained unbeaten Friday night, cruising past Pinnacle in a 36-point blowout during a 6A Fiesta Region matchup at Hamilton High School.

The Huskies, ranked No. 3 in Arizona by MaxPreps, improved to 7–0 overall and 2–0 in region play. Pinnacle, ranked No. 7, fell to 5–2 and 1–1 in the region.

Quarterback Jax Sculley led Hamilton with 444 passing yards and five touchdowns, while sophomore receiver Roye Oliver III caught seven passes for 284 yards and four scores. 

The Huskies’ defense forced four turnovers and blocked a field goal, setting the tone early.

Hamilton opened the game with a statement, scoring on the second play from scrimmage when Sculley connected with Oliver deep down the right sideline for a 75-yard touchdown. The Huskies added a field goal later in the first quarter to go up 10–0, while Pinnacle’s first drive ended with a blocked field goal attempt.

Pinnacle answered late in the quarter when running back Gavin Hammond took a double pass and threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Pinder, cutting the deficit to 10–7. Both Hammond and Pinder were injured before halftime and did not return, forcing the Pioneers to adjust offensively.

Pinnacle’s defense provided a spark in the second quarter when Kash Silva intercepted a pass in Pinnacle territory. But Hamilton responded with a third Sculley-to-Oliver touchdown to lead 25–7 at halftime.

Hamilton extended the margin early in the third when Sculley hit Oliver again for a 25-yard touchdown, Oliver’s fourth of the night. Pinnacle responded immediately as quarterback Jackson Reader found Deuce Postell in stride for a 74-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 32–13.

“It was just an amazing feeling,” Postell said. “I felt like I ran a great route, and as soon as I saw my quarterback rolling out and throw that ball up in the air, I knew it was a touchdown.”

Hamilton’s defense took over from there, forcing multiple turnovers in the second half. Jacob Brown scored a rushing touchdown in the fourth, and Sculley threw another touchdown late in the fourth to seal the 49-13 win.

Reader finished with 109 passing yards, one touchdown and two fumbles, while Postell led the offense with two catches for 111 yards and a score. Hammond totaled 78 rushing yards, 24 passing yards and a touchdown before his injury.

Brown rushed for 90 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, and Devante Roebuck added 45 yards on nine carries for Hamilton.

After the game, Pinnacle head coach Dana Zupke praised his team’s effort but said costly errors made the difference.

“Well, just too many mistakes, you know?” Zupke said. “I’m proud of our players for the fight they showed. I think at times we flashed, and it was very obvious, especially in the first half. We just—we’ve got to limit the explosives.”

Silva said the Pioneers will look to bounce back quickly.

“Just don’t let it happen again,” Silva said. “We’ve felt this now twice, and we don’t want this to happen again. We’ve got to win out so we can reach our goal of that big game.”

Hamilton will travel to Basha High School next week, while Pinnacle goes on the road to Valley Vista High School in another key 6A Fiesta Region matchup.