Saguaro dynasty built on love, relationships

It seems like the more written about Scottsdale Saguaro, its 23 Division I football recruits, the state championships the Sabercats have been stacking going on six years, the more vitriol gets generated on social media.

Saguaro has become the football dynasty people love to hate.

But look a little closer, beyond the trophy case, and you’ll find a deeply rooted family filled with love and pride and trust.

Last week, during a week off to get ready for the 4A state championship game this Friday against Tucson Salpointe Catholic, Saguaro had its traditional bowling night and traditional Thanksgiving morning practice where alumni were invited and given bagels and coffee.

A first-year assistant, who came over from Gilbert Higley, turned to coach Jason Mohns with his observations from a former outsider looking in.

“He said, ‘You know, everybody views you guys as the evil empire, but I didn’t realize this whole thing is built on love and relationships,’ ” Mohns said. “They care. You find out the evil empire isn’t so evil.”

But it is devastating. Saguaro has won 45 consecutive games against instate opponents.

The Sabercats are seeking a 6-peat, or as the coaches and players call it, “Zone Six,” which would also be the school’s 12th state football championship.

Building blocks

It started in 1995 with the school’s first crown under coach Tim Beck, who is now the offensive coordinator at Texas.

The next title didn’t come until 11 years later, under Mike Reardon, who then handed the program off to his defensive coordinator, John Sanders, who ran with it.

After Sanders had a down year (not winning state), he had Saguaro back with two more gold balls in 2010 and ’11, before his offensive coordinator, Mohns, was given the job.

4A championship

No. 1 Tucson Salpointe Catholic (13-0) vs. No. 2 Scottsdale Saguaro (12-1)

5A, 6A championships

6A - Saturday, 4:30 p.m. at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe

No. 1 Chandler (12-1) vs. No. 6 Gilbert Perry (11-2)

5A - Saturday, 12:30 p.m. at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe

No. 1 Peoria Centennial (13-0) vs. No. 3 Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep (13-0)

Mohns didn’t have the immediate splash. His first team went 8-4, falling in the second round of the playoffs.

But he had a young Christian Kirk and a young Luke Rubenzer.

The more Kirk rose as a national recruit, the more attractive Saguaro’s program became, the more incoming high school studs and first- and second-year high school players and their parents across the Valley paid attention, and wanted to be part of it.

Now it has a roster the likes of which maybe nobody has ever seen in Arizona.

“Honestly, you want kids who want to play in high school for the love of the game,” Mohns said. “Our kids love the game of football. But they also have aspirations and goals to play football beyond high school. They’ve spent a lot of time, getting with trainers and clubs and the best you have.

“You’d have to be blind if you don’t look at the fact that you’re looking at more than who you are as a person and how much the program wins, what we do to help a kid get to the next level.’’

“We’ve taken a lot of pride in that. There are benefits from that model. You work hard and you buy into being a team player. I’m going to do everything I can do to help them get to the next level.”

The defense hasn’t skipped a beat since Kelee Ringo, one of the nation’s top-rated cornerbacks for the 2020 class, became ineligible late in the season for violating a district policy.