Hamilton quarterback Marlie Phillips is not your typical star-freshman athlete putting up crazy numbers.

"She does everything," says wide receiver Samaya Taylor-Jenkins of Phillips.

"She brings us leadership, she's an amazing teammate, and she always has us locked is in."

That's mighty praise from an All-American teammate two years Phillips' senior. But the results bear the truth: Phillips is a huge reason the No. 1 Huskies are two wins away from the ultimate goal of a 6A state championship. 
They host No. 4 Mountain View Wednesday night in a semifinal rematch from one year ago. The Toros were underdogs going into that game, but left with a 20-16 victory and eventually won the first sanctioned 6A flag football title in Arizona.

It was a stinging loss for Hamilton. "I'll admit it was really tough last year especially losing at home," Taylor-Jenkins said. "It lit a fire under us. Our goal ever since has been to win the state championship and hold that trophy at the end of the season. We've been working for this since the spring and early summer."

Taylor-Jenkins was already regarded as one of Arizona's top players entering this season. The junior hauled in 92 receptions for over 1,600 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2023.

However, concern loomed through the offseason. With senior quarterback CC Maccagnano gone, the Huskies had a void to fill at quarterback.
"I didn't know if we'd have one," Taylor-Jenkins admits.
Enter Phillips, who even going back to last season--still an eighth grader--saw the potential for 2024.

Husky Hopeful

"I went to five or six of Hamilton's games last year and I knew I wanted to play for this team," Phillips says. "I love how they played and I knew coach Stone was one of the best coaches around and he had helped to get flag football sanctioned."  

Stone and Phillips had met at previous football camps, so by early summer, he had a good idea that an incoming freshman could become his new quarterback. Even still, Stone recalls significant mechanical improvements she would need, and how much he learned about Phillips before Hamilton's first game.

"We were playing in one of our first summer tournaments down in Tucson," Stone explains. "We already knew she had a strong arm. But I noticed that her delivery was a litlle slow and extended, and it was something we wanted to help her improve. But at that time I didn't know Marlie the person yet. I didn't know how she'd react or adjust to that. You never know with especially with younger kids. So our coaches went to work with her, and the improvement in her release and motion was so improved I almost couldn't believe it, and that's when I found out about Marlie the person. She is so coachable and such a great student of the game." 
 

Super-Freshman

From her first varsity game, she's proven she can play at an elite level against top competition on the big stage. Phillips' first start was a televised, 48-14 win over Xavier, in which she threw for 258 yards and five touchdowns. Two weeks later against Canyon View and all-state senior QB Katelyn Jewell, Phillips passed for two scores and 266 yards in a 17-7 win, the Huskies most competitive game of the year thus far. In games against No. 2 Basha, No. 4 Highland and No. 7 Red Mountain, Phillips was unstoppable, throwing for a combined 977 yards and 15 TD's. Her 281 yards per game average is top 10 in the nation.

As for Taylor-Jenkins, she's playing like one of the nation's top receivers, and her 2024 production is proof: 137 receptions and 34 receiving touchdowns. Three other Husky receivers have at least 37 receptions. Whatever happens this week, it's scary to realize that Phillips and Taylor Jenkins have another season together.

Samaya Taylor-Jenkins has nearly 140 receptions and 34 TD's heading into the 6A semifinals. (Photo by Steve Paynter/MaxPreps).Coach Stone and Taylor-Jenkins are quick to point out that it's not the gaudy numbers that make Phillips so special. "Her understanding of the quarterback position is amazing," Taylor-Jenkins says. "Throughout the season, teams have tried throwing everything possible at her, and she's never phased. She sees what's going and knows how to adjust."

Added coach Stone, "She watches more film than anyone. But what's also impressive is her attitude and resillience. Even when she's made bad throws or interceptions, she doesn't get too down. She wants to learn why she made the mistake and what she might have seen."

Championship Caliber?

On paper, Hamilton is a clear favorite against any team in the state, as they are tonight against Mountain View (15-2). But coach Stone and many of his players are familiar with the Toros' knack for winning, especially in close games. Sophomore quarterback Tierah Metcalf has put together another solid season (2,700 yards, 33 TD's). Senior Lucee Lamoreaux has nearly 1,800 yards of total offense.

Mountain View senior Lucee Lamoreaux is one of QB Tierah Metcalf's favorite targets. (Photo by Darin Sicurello/MaxPreps)

"They just refuse to lose," Stone said of Mountain View. "You can see it in their faces watching film. They just play with so much grit. (Metcalf) has seen and experienced everything."

Gametime is 6pm. The winner will advance to the 6A title game Saturday evening at Chandler High, facing the winner of the Red Mountain-Marana semifinal game.