SIERRA VISTA - Just as thunder began to rumble in the distance, officials announced that Sierra Vista Buena’s showdown with state juggernaut Chandler Hamilton would be delayed for a half hour because of lightning.

The rain – and the rout – were already on.

Hamilton (1-0), the defending Class 5A-I state champion, opened defense of its title with a 44-0 win over the Colts (0-1) in a game called with 11:02 left in the third quarter.

Lightning and rain continued to cover the area after the official announcement was made shortly after 9 p.m.

Coaches for both teams said they had never experienced a game shortened because of inclement weather.

“The officials made a good call with the safety of the kids,” said Buena assistant coach Mark Schaefer, who was filling in for head coach Michael Vezzosi, who missed most of the first half for personal reasons.

Hamilton led 30-0 after the first quarter as lightning flickered in the distance but didn’t come close until the third quarter.

“I’m really happy with our (first-team players),” Hamilton coach Steve Belles said. “We got the work in that we wanted to.”

His Huskies own a 52-4 record and three state championships in the last four years while Buena went 6-4 last year and has missed the playoffs every year since 1993.

“That’s the best team in the state right there,” Schaefer said. “They’ve got some athletes. They’ve got some really good athletes.”

One of those athletes, senior quarterback Gerell Robinson, is a University of Arizona recruit. He threw a 19-yard touchdown pass and completed 4 of 6 passes for 65 yards. During Hamilton’s second drive of the game, he showed off his athleticism, rolling right to look for an open receiver, then darting left to avoid tacklers on a 38-yard run. Hamilton scored two plays later on Caleve DeBoskie’s 19-yard reception for a 14-0 lead.

“Wow,” Schaefer said of Robinson. “Is that close enough? He’s a very special athlete.”

Hamilton’s Drew Terrell returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown. To cap the first-half scoring, he also ran 77 yards for a touchdown.

Hamilton used the game as a tune-up for next week’s game with No. 2 Phoenix Brophy, a rematch of the 2005 state title game won by Brophy.