THREE YARDS AND A PUDDLE OF MUD: Hamilton’s Nathan Jeffery tries to escape the grasp of a Brophy defender during Friday’s 5A Division I state semifinal game.

Darryl Webb, Tribune

On the second play of the game against Chandler Hamilton Friday night, Phoenix Brophy senior quarterback Bryan Berens lost a fumble.

Brophy knocks off Hamilton

SLIDESHOW: View High School Football semifinals slideshow

In the second week of the season, Hamilton spanked Brophy and Berens in a 23-point victory.

But Berens knows it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. And he knows the Broncos aren’t finished.

“We still have one more,’’ he said after helping Brophy hand the Huskies a 24-14 loss in the 5A-I state football semifinals at Tempe McClintock. “I’m going to enjoy this for about five minutes.”

As a sophomore, Berens directed a dramatic, late scoring drive in the state final to beat Hamilton. The Huskies had not lost to an Arizona team again until Friday night.

This time, Berens provided no Hollywood ending. Brophy led most of the game.

His passing stats were nothing too exciting. He threw for 173 yards, with a 25-yard touchdown pass and no interceptions.

He made plays when needed. He engineered two long scoring drives and consistently kept the ball out of Hamilton’s hands.

He did so under challenging circumstances.

First, he was facing an athletic team that probably will be remembered as one of the most-talented Arizona teams not to win the state title.

Secondly, he faced a steady downpour and a field that was muddy and soft in most places, and had standing water in others. Like most kids from Arizona, he wasn’t used to it.

“I’ve been playing since fourth grade,’’ he said. “I don’t think there’s ever been more than a light sprinkle.”

The Brophy staff did the best they could to prepare for the conditions.

“We knew we were going to have to throw the ball some,’’ Brophy coach Scooter Molander said.

Molander said Brophy abstained from using an old coaching technique — soak the ball in water to get the quarterback used to throwing a slick, heavy ball.

“We throw enough that we didn’t want our quarterback developing a sore arm because he was throwing a ball that’s twice as heavy,’’ he said.

Instead, Brophy had enough towels to stock a Bed Bath & Beyond on the sidelines and made sure there were plenty of dry footballs.