Mon Nov 28, 2011 10:55 AM

Thunder end nation's longest winning streak at 53 games

Desert Vista (Phoenix) showed how far a team can come in seven weeks when it upset Hamilton (Chandler) 45-19 for the Arizona 5A-I championship on Saturday.

Not only did the Thunder end the nation's longest winning streak at 53 games, but they dominated the Huskies, who had won three consecutive state titles and were No. 19 in the USA TODAY Super 25 rankings, after losing 35-10 to Hamilton on Oct. 6.

"We tried to focus on our preparation," Desert Vista coach Dan Hinds said. "That was the only thing we could control. We didn't focus on the fact they had 53 wins."

Because Hamilton dominated in the previous meeting, Hinds said he could rely heavily on the video of the previous meeting because he didn't think the Huskies would change much.

"Our game plan was not to give up the long ball," Hinds said. "If they were going to score, they were going to earn it."

Saturday, Desert Vista never punted and held Hamilton to 74 yards on the ground. Mike Arredondo had a hit that led to touchdown off an interception and ran for two touchdowns for the Thunder.

Big week for upsets: Hamilton was one of seven Super 25 teams to fall over the weekend. The others: No. 3 Katy lost 9-6 Saturday to La Porte a Texas 5A-II region semifinal; No. 6 Camden County (Kingsland) lost 33-32 Friday to Colquitt County (Moultrie) in a Georgia 5A quarterfinal; No. 11 Trinity (Euless) lost 19-7 to Martin (Arlington) in a Texas 5A-I region semifinal Saturday; No. 16 Servite (Anaheim) fell 24-20 to Tesoro (Las Flores) Friday in a California Southern Section second-round game; No. 18 Mallard Creek (Charlotte) fell 41-27 to Page (Greensboro) in a North Carolina 4AA semifinal Friday; and No. 23 Christian Brothers College (St. Louis) lost 40-37 to Blue Springs South in the Missouri 6A state final Friday.

Record title: No. 13 Carmel defeated Penn (Mishawaka) 54-0 for the Indiana 5A title Saturday, the biggest margin of victory ever in a state title game in Indiana's largest classification. Brandon Denning passed for 143 yards and ran for 60 to lead Carmel, which won its seventh state title. It was also coach Kevin Wright's first title after winning three while coaching at Warren Central (Indianapolis) for six seasons.

Carmel's win was the second blowout victory in an Indiana state championship Saturday as Indianapolis Cathedral defeated Washington (South Bend) 42-7 for the 4A title. Gino Gillum, a 5-7 running back, ran for 180 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Irish.

"It's just humbling, wonderful," Gillum said. "We were running the ball a lot and we had great blocking, ground and pound like we usually do."

Cathedral won its second consecutive title and third in four seasons.

Record game: Montini (Lombard) won its third consecutive 5A Illinois state title Saturday, defeating Joliet Catholic 70-45. Montini quarterback John Rhode set a state title game record for passing yards with 587 and for touchdowns with seven. Rhode connected with wide receiver Jordan Westerkamp for 331 yards (a record for one receiver in the title game) and 11 receptions, including five for touchdowns Rhode also found Joe Borsellino 10 times for 142 yards and Anthony Taylor seven times for 113 yards.

"It's been a great relationship, not only with Jordan but with Joe and Anthony and all of the other guys," said Rhode, who transferred to Montini this season. "They told me how great it is to be standing here as a state champion, but it's more than they ever said."

Other records set in the game were for Montini's points scored, Joliet's yards rushing (587), combined points scored and yards gained (1,634).

Joliet running back Ty Isaac ran for 515 yards (including 376 yards in the first half, another title game record) on 26 carries .

On a run: Over the last two games, Dayln Dawkins, a running back for No. 2 Trinity (Louisville) has run for 498 yards on 50 carries with five touchdowns in defeating rival St. Xavier (Louisville) 42-6 and Butler (Louisville) 49-6. With its win against Butler, Trinity will play for the state championship for the 11th time in 12 seasons.

Contributing: Wire reports