Saguaro shows it belongs in Open Division
There was a crazy ending. Breakthrough performances. Encore performances. And a reminder of what street the state championship runs through.
Let’s wind back through and take a look at the surprises, statements, clutch performances of Friday’s big-school conferences high school football quarterfinals and what to expect moving forward.
Biggest takeaway
Scottsdale Saguaro is ready for its usual postseason run, one again in the Open, after last season ended abruptly because of positive COVID cases. Nothing is going to stand in the way of the Sabercats after they jumped on Glendale Cactus 28-7 in the first half and, after a few hiccups in the third quarter, cruised to a 42-21 victory to slide into the semifinals against top-ranked, nationally ranked and seemingly invincible Chandler Hamilton. Hamilton, as expected, overpowered American Leadership Queen Creek in the second half to advance. Cactus and ALA Queen Creek can hold their heads high, however, after Friday. They were the 4A representative to play in the Open. Had they stayed in 4A, they would be favored to meet for the championship. But, this is what the schools asked for three years ago when the Arizona Interscholastic Association presented the idea of an Open Division to create more excitement and drama in the playoffs. Saguaro is the lone 5A rep in the Open, but, look at them, and there really isn’t much difference between the Sabercats and 6A Hamilton as far as size, speed and athleticism. Open teams still standing -- Chandler and Peoria Liberty -- in the other semifinal are both 6A teams. This might be it for the Open, if Saguaro is promoted to 6A next season. That would leave really nobody in 5A and 4A who stands a chance to win an Open game. And do they really want to work all season to be put in the Open, only to end up losing by three or four touchdowns in the first round? The Open is a huge compliment but there is a hallow feeling after dominating all season in your own conference, only to be placed elsewhere and suddenly it’s over with nothing but the tears.
Best moves
There were two: One at Chandler, where coach Rick Garretson shook up the offense in the second half and unleashed big, mobile, athletic quarterback Kenneth Cooper on Queen Creek, which was leading 21-14. Cooper, who is like a Cam Newton with his size and athleticism at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, ran the ball six times for 70 yards and two touchdowns, as the Wolves went on to win 4828. Before that game, Cooper had carried the ball a total of seven times this season, playing sparingly, as Blaine Hipa took most of the snaps this season. Hipa wasn’t benched in the second half. Hipa came back when the Bulldogs started to find answers for Cooper, and threw a couple of TD passes. Hipa ended up 9 of 11 for 179 yards and three TDs. Cooper didn’t attempt a pass, but the weapon Cooper presents is real and it won’t be lost on the Wolves as they move forward and find ways to jump-start the offense.
For Saguaro, coach Jason Mohns gave junior quarterback Devon Dampier his first start of the season, after he would come in occasionally to reliever senior Ridge Docekal the second half of the season when Dampier became eligible from his transfer move from Phoenix Pinnacle. It paid off big. Dampier scored on runs of 11 and 20 yards and threw a 29yard TD strike in the Sabercats’ 28-7 first half.
After Dampier fumbled the ball away twice in the third quarter, Mohns said he didn’t feel that was the right time to put Docekal in at QB. “It’s a tough deal,” Mohns said. “Two good quarterbacks. Everybody says it’s a good problem to have. But it’s tough, because they’re both deserving of time. We just felt Devon was the right matchup to put pressure on Cactus.”
Wildest ending
For the second straight week, it looked like the No. 10-seeded Phoenix St. Mary’s Knights would find magic in the gold playoff pants. The Knights, who beat No. 7 Buckeye last week behind the tough running of quarterback David Galindo
and the passing of QB Nick Martinez, had No. 2 Casa Grande on the ropes, taking a 29-28 lead with 27 seconds left on Galindo’s two-point conversion run. A pass interference call on St. Mary’s as time expired gave Casa Grande an untimed down from St. Mary’s 18-yard line. Josh Villa’s 35-yard field goal gave the Cougars a 31-29 4A quarterfinal victory and their first 11-win season in school history.
Best encore
A week after Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep senior Gavin Smith had more than 200 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns — on a punt return, a catch and a run — in a 5A playoff win over Glendale Apollo, he did it again. Smith returned a kickoff for a touchdown, ran for a score and caught a TD pass, amassing more than 200 all-purpose yards at Tucson Salpointe Catholic. But it wasn’t enough, as the Lancer prevailed 45-42 in the quarterfinal game.
Best breakthrough
Gilbert Mesquite quietly is making its way back to the 4A final under coach Scott Hare. And this time without quarterback Ty Thompson, who is now at Oregon. There is another big QB, Gerardo Saenz, 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, a senior, who is asserting himself. In a 27-14 4A quarterfinal win over a tough Kingman Lee Williams team, he was 25 of 43 for 389 yards and four TDs with two interceptions. Saenz appeared in only two games last season when the Wildcats captured their second straight 4A title, throwing a total of three passes, completing one for 18 yards. This season, he has passed for 2,616 yards and 31 TDs. This Mesquite team is driven, though, by receiver/middle linebacker Andrew Morris, who had a monster game on both side of the ball against Lee Williams. He had nine catches for 140 yards and a TD and locked it down on defense. Mesquite’s starting defense has allowed only one touchdown in the last five games, Hare said.
BUCCANEERS (7-3) AT COLTS (6-5)
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox
Tipico Sportsbook line: Bucs by 31⁄2 Buccaneers’ keys: They need to keep the ball safe. The Colts lead the NFL with 25 takeaways. The line has to keep QB Tom Brady clean so he can find holes against the zone-heavy defense.
Colts’ keys: The offense starts with RB Jonathan Taylor, the NFL leader in rushing yards (1,122) and rushing TDs (13).
JETS (2-8) AT TEXANS (2-8)
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Tipico Sportsbook line: Texans by 21⁄2 Jets’ keys: DT Quinnen Williams has been able to generate interior pressure. Stopping the run will force Houston to play one-dimensional. Texans’ keys: Houston has won the turnover battle in its wins. QB Tyrod Taylor showed in Week 11 he can protect the ball and use his
legs to supplement the running game .
EAGLES (5-6) AT GIANTS (3-7)
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox
Tipico Sportsbook line: Eagles by 31⁄2 Eagles’ keys: New York is susceptible to runs up the middle. Pounding the ball with RBs Miles Sanders and Boston Scott will draw the safeties in, allowing TE Dallas Goedert to feast.
Giants’ keys: The Giants must find ways to keep QB Daniel Jones upright and give him time to read the field.
PANTHERS (5-6) AT DOLPHINS (4-7)
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox
Tipico Sportsbook line: Panthers by 21⁄2 Panthers’ keys: The running game needs to be on point; QB Cam Newton and RB Christian McCaffrey combined for 105 yards and a TD in the Week 11 win. Dolphins’ keys: The Dolphins need to pick up their offensive output; that unit hasn’t done anything exceptionally well this season.
TITANS (8-3) AT PATRIOTS (7-4)
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Tipico Sportsbook line: Patriots by 61⁄2 Titans’ keys: Considering how good the Patriots have been in defending the run, looking extremely stout in recent games, it’s not smart for the Titans to think they’ll have success.
Patriots’ keys: They need to establish an early lead. New England plays its best when it can rely on its defense.
STEELERS (5-4-1) AT BENGALS (6-4)
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Tipico Sportsbook line: Bengals by 31⁄2 Steelers’ keys: When the teams met in Week 3, QB Ben Roethlisberger was sacked four times and threw two picks over 58 attempts and his defense let up three passing scores.
Bengals’ keys: More looks for TE C.J. Uzomah could highlight a way other teams have hurt the Steelers’ defense.
FALCONS (4-6) AT JAGUARS (2-8)
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Tipico Sportsbook wire: Falcons by 11⁄2 Falcons’ keys: Clean up protection issues for QB Matt Ryan, who was hit or sacked eight times in Week 11. Jaguars’ keys: They’ve hurt themselves by putting QB Trevor Lawrence in thirdand-long situations and helping offenses stay on the field with crucial penalties.
CHARGERS (6-4) AT BRONCOS (5-5)
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS Tipico Sportsbook line: Chargers by 21⁄2 Chargers’ keys: The Broncos’ run defense has struggled lately, great news for Los Angeles RB Austin Ekeler, who’s on pace to have his best season.
Broncos’ keys: QB Teddy Bridgewater has done a good job protecting the ball, but he’s not going to beat a team with his arm.
RAMS (7-3) AT PACKERS (8-3)
TV: 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox Tipico Sportsbook line: Rams by 11⁄2 Rams’ keys: The Rams need to keep QB Matthew Stafford protected after he was sacked a total of seven times in consecutive losses. Packers’ keys: Protecting QB Aaron Rodgers with a makeshift line is the first step. On defense, the secondary has to play better vs. WRs Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr.
VIKINGS (5-5) AT 49ERS (5-5)
TV: 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox Tipico Sportsbook line: 49ers by 31⁄2 Vikings’ keys: Put the offense on the shoulders of RB Dalvin Cook. If he churns out yards early, he could allow QB Kirk Cousins to work off play-action and tear up a shoddy 49ers secondary.
The Niners’ defense will rely heavily on LBs Fred Warner and Azeez Al-Shaair to slow the run.
BROWNS (6-5) AT RAVENS (7-3)
TV: 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday, NBC Tipico Sportsbook line: Ravens by 31⁄2 Browns’ keys: Cleveland will have to get off to a fast start, or at least hold its own vs. the Baltimore offense. Ravens’ keys: Baltimore will need to use a balanced attack on offense to beat a Cleveland defense that has plenty of stars on it but hasn’t lived up to expectations.
SEAHAWKS (3-7) AT WASHINGTON (4-6)
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET Monday, ESPN Tipico Sportsbook line: WFT by 1⁄2 point Seahawks’ keys: Seattle and QB Russell Wilson must find ways to get top playmakers WRs Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf more involved as Washington’s secondary has struggled.
Washington’s keys: Washington should still continue to lean heavily on the run, setting up play-action.