Five weeks ago Saguaro’s proud and powerful football program was reeling. 

The Sabercats, who have collected 13 state championships over the years, were limping with a 4-5 record, having lost four of five games to a handful of top teams. It was unfamiliar territory to say the least.

Saturday afternoon at Mountain America Stadium, order was restored at a familiar locale, as Saguaro captured the 6A State Championship with a 40-20 victory over Red Mountain for the school’s 14th football title.

The Sabercats (8-5) overcame a slew of untimely personal fouls and turnovers by executing a perfectly balanced offensive ballgame. Saguaro rushed for 210 yards and three touchdowns and quarterback Mason Bray matched those exact numbers through the air, while throwing with laser sharp precision, completing 90% of his passes (20 of 22). 

“It feels really good,” an emotional Bray said after the game.

“I’ve wanted this my whole life. This is the result of a lot of hard work and sticking together, through the season and this game.” 

Despite its 5-5 regular season record, the Sabercats earned the No. 3 seed in the 6A bracket thanks to its brutal schedule. Red Mountain’s journey was not unlike Saguaro’s, as the Lions entered the playoffs with the No. 12 seed after a 4-6 campaign. Once the postseason got started, Saguaro never looked back, controlling each of its four opponents, including a semifinal rematch against No. 2 Salpointe in which the Sabercats avenged a week eight loss with a commanding 42-24 win.

“It was a long road, and we had a lot of ups and down through the season,” Saguaro first year coach Zak Hill said.

“We learned a lot from it and we’re an experienced team at this point in the year. We started playing really well. The kids came together and it’s really nice to be able to finish it here with a win.”

The Playmakers

Bray’s outstanding afternoon included plenty of help from Saguaro’s talented collection of skill players. Receiver Jaci Dickerson caught nine passes for133 yards and scored Saguaro’s first touchdown on a 17-yard screen pass. Kamden Segall and Reiss Rinaldi caught Bray’s other two passing scores. Sophomore Jacob Brown led all rushers with 116 yards and a pair of scoring runs in the second half to help Saguaro pull away. Senior Jaedon Matthews added 65 yards and one touchdown, with 110 total yards.

Rinaldi’s scoring reception gave Saguaro a 14-7 lead to start the second quarter, and the Sabercats looked as if they would take control of the game after forcing another Red Mountain punt. After driving 57 yards to the Lions’ seven yard line, Dickerson took a handoff and darted toward the goal line before fumbling at the one yard line. Lukas Wilson recovered for the Lions.

Red Mountain finds a way

That goal line fumble, followed by the next sequence of plays, demonstrated how Red Mountain (7-7) was able to keep the game in doubt until the fourth quarter despite Saguaro’s statistical dominance.
Pinned back at its one yard line, Red Mountain was lucky to avoid a safety after Lopez was sacked twice. The third down sack would’ve left Red Mountain at its own two, but Saguaro was flagged for targeting, giving the Lions breathing room and first down at the 15. Two players later, Lopez cashed in, finding Gunner Moore deep over the middle for an 83-yard touchdown. With 3:21 left until halftime it was tied at 14-14 instead of 28-7, which Saguaro was one yard away from just moments earlier.

Jaedon Matthews would score before the half to give Saguaro a 21-14 lead, but the Lions had the same momentum and confidence that got them to the title game.

Too much Saguaro

Unfortunately for Red Mountain and coach Kyle Enders, Saguaro would eventually pull away in the second half, ending the Lions inspiring postseason run. An 11-yard, 4th down touchdown pass from Lopez to Bode Wagner early in the fourth quarter cut the Sabercat lead to 33-20, but Red Mountain just didn’t have enough left. 

After three dramatic playoff wins, coach Enders didn’t mince words about his team’s effort.

“Anybody that’s played us. Anybody that’s watched us. Anybody that knows anything about anything knows that this (result) was not from lack of effort,” coach Enders said after the game.

“These kids laid everything out on the field. They’ve done everything as a team. They do it the right way. They’ve done everything that a coach can dream for.”

Despite the constant punishment  from Saguaro’s defense, Lopez gutted his way to 205 passing yards and two scores for Red Mountain. Savoie and Preston Heap combined for 11 receptions.