Chandler Hamilton holds had an edge over just about every football team it has played during its decade of existence. The one notable exception is Friday’s championship game foe, Phoenix Brophy.

The schools have played four times — all in the last four years — and each has won twice. Hamilton’s victories have been in the regular season (last year and this year).

Brophy’s were in the playoffs. The first one came in 2005, a 15-14 Brophy triumph in the 5A-I title game that denied Hamilton a three-peat and a perfect season. The second occurred last year in the semifinals, when the Broncos knocked Hamilton out again. Brophy went on to beat Phoenix Desert Vista in the championship game and take home its second state title.

TITLE REPEAT SCORECARD

With five of seven state football title games in the books for 2008, there have been three repeats and the chance for two more on Friday. St. Johns (2A) and Scottsdale Notre Dame (4A-II) have repeated. Scottsdale Saguaro three-peated with its shutout of Scottsdale Chaparral. Brophy and Peoria Centennial can repeat with victories Friday. In Centennial’s case, it would be a three-peat if the Coyotes prevail over Avondale Westview.

OUT LIKE LIONS

Mesa Red Mountain opened the 2008-09 boys basketball season with a 70-58 loss to Gilbert Highland. Since then the Mountain Lions have won seven in a row. Tonight, Red Mountain gets another shot at Highland, hosting the Hawks at 7 p.m.

“We have a bunch of kids who play real hard,” Red Mountain coach Greg Sessions said. “I’d love to tell you we scare people when we walk in the gym, but we don’t. So far we’ve had a different kid step up every night. We have good chemistry, and that’s a good thing with a group like this.”

Red Mountain’s top five scorers (Chris Lewis, Jeff Bunker, Paul Newendyke, Jordan Holt and Jordan Pratt) thus far are averaging between 13.6 and 8 points per game.

TONN FINISHES FOURTH

Phoenix Xavier’s Jessica Tonn finished fourth in the girls race at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships West Regional at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif., this past weekend.

Tonn, as a top 10 finisher in the regional, qualifies for Saturday’s national finals, which take place at Balboa Park in San Diego.

GILBERT UNBEATEN

Gilbert High’s boys basketball team completed another 3-0 week last week, defeating Mesa High, Marana Mountain View and Tempe Corona del Sol.

Senior guard Elliott Clark, who signed last month to play at UC-San Diego, has averaged 17.8 points a game over his last four games and has led the Tigers in scoring in each of those contests. He is averaging 15 points a game for the year. Clark was bothered the first week of the season by a sprained ankle.

SABERCAT HONORED

Scottsdale Saguaro baseball player Ryan Comford has been named an Under Armour Preseason All-American.

Comford, a junior shortstop, will play in a preseason All-America tournament Jan. 16-18 in Tucson. The tournament showcases 200 of the top players from around the nation.