SCOUTING REPORT

Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale.

When: 3:30 p.m.

TV: FSAZ. When Hamilton has the ball: Expect quarterback Sammy Sasso to take the snaps under center and run some option and misdirection with tailback Tyrell Smth the primary ball carrier, looking for seams behind a big, athletic line, led by Casey Tucker. Sasso is a decent enough passer with good targets, particularly Elijah Williams, to keep Mountain Pointe from loading the box with nine defenders. When Mountain Pointe has the ball: It will rely on its power game with backs Wesley Payne, Brandyn Leonard and Paul Lucas taking turns. Payne is more of the inside-the-tackles runner, along with Leonard. Lucas has great open-field speed. Quarterback Antonio Hinojosa has good enough speed to extend plays and find wide receiver Jalen Brown for big plays. day’s semifinals, Desert Ridge coach Jeremy Hathcock called Mountain Pointe “the most physical team I have ever seen in this state.”

Mountain Pointe comes after it defensively with fast, aggressive sure tacklers, led by linebacker Wesley Payne. They have a swagger. If they give up a touchdown, the other team is going to work extremely hard to get it.

“I think last year there were a lot of new kids who were just in awe,” Brown said.

Hamilton, which relies mostly on the power running of tailback Tyrell Smith, has won ugly on its way to the final. It had to pull out close wins against Phoenix Pinnacle (2420), Las Vegas Liberty (14-10), Chandler Basha (32-31), Gilbert Highland (14-7) and in Monday’s dramatic 21-17 win over Chandler.

It doesn’t wow people on offense, but, with Casey Tucker back from a high ankle sprain to anchor the line, Hamilton believes it can move the ball against Mountain Pointe.

“I feel like the underdog in this game,” said Smith, who scored the winning touchdown against Chandler on fourth-and-goal from the1to get Hamilton here. “It’s the same situation we were in last year.”

Mountain Pointe will have defenders Trey Lauer and Dominique Fenstermacher back after they missed Monday’s semifinal.

“Last year’s team, that’s over,” Vaughan said. “To me last year never has anything to do with now. Revenge? I don’t think it plays into it. They may play that card.

“We’re going to play hard, we’re going to be physical and we’re going to be fast. But you can’t make mistakes.”