3A FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

No. 5 Sabino vs. No. 3 American Leadership, 6:30 p.m.

(Chaparral High School)

 

Sabino defeated Show Low 23-21 on Saturday to advance to the 3A championship game next week. No. 5 Sabino (12-1) took out the top-seeded Cougars after trailing 14-0 early in the semifinal game.

This will be the ninth trip to the final for Sabino but the first appearance for American Leadership.  This is only the third year of competition for the ALA Patriots (12-1) of Queen Creek.

Sabino defeated ALA 16-13 on Sept. 2. University of Arizona commit Drew Dixon rushed for 91 yards in that game and Alex Bell threw for 118 yards with a touchdown. Matthew Nevill threw for 192 yards and a TD to lead ALA. Jermiah Boyd rushed for 85 yards and a TD. Bujon Boyd had 106 yards receiving and a TD.

In the game against Show Low, Bell threw for 237 yards and two TDs and Andrew Carlsen collected 163 of those yards through the air.

ALA defeated No. 7 NW Christian 41-21 in their semifinal win. Senior QB Dallin Edwards threw for 141 yards but the team rushed for 249 yards. The Patriots gave up 227 yards in the air.

PREDICTION: Sabino wins their fourth championship 21-10 in what could be the last game for head coach Jay Campos. Campos took on administrative duties at Sabino this year.

 

4A FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

No. 6 Catalina Foothills vs. No. 1 Saguaro, 10 a.m.

(University of Phoenix Stadium)

 

What can be said about Jeff Scurran that hasn’t been said before? He resurrected another 0-10 program and is back in a state championship game: Santa Rita was 0-10 in 2006 and Catalina Foothills was 0-10 in 2012.

Every win at Catalina Foothills at this point is unchartered territory. Heck, even a loss at this point would be a first because this is the first time the Falcons have played in a state championship game involving a football.

Leading the way for the Falcons (11-2) are senior QB Rhett Rodriguez, Sr. RB Dashiel Pudwill, Sr. receivers Bryon Beckon and Jimmy Stewart, Sr. TE Max Michalczik, Sr. kicker Heath Kleindienst and Sr. LB Brandon Smith. Simply, this is a complete team.

Seeded sixth, the Falcons destroyed No, 2 Higley 62-37 in their semifinal game on Friday. That victory came after upsetting No. 3 Sunrise Mountain 52-49 in the quarterfinal round. But, the biggest challenge will be the championship game against No. 1 Saguaro next Saturday.

The Sabercats have played for a state championship in five different levels of play and have won in four of them.

Saguaro won a D-II title last year; a D-III championship in 2014, 2013 and 2011; a 4A-I championship in 2010, 2008, 2007 and 2006; a 4A championship in 1995. The only loss came in the 5A championship game in 1978.

The Sabercats are loaded with NCAA D-I talent. Over 6,000 yards of total offense. Only four teams have gained more yards and one of those was Higley. Higley had almost 6,500 yards of offense but the Falcons were able to end their season.

Anything is possible.

No. 4 Salpointe limited Sahuaro to 24 points in the other semifinal game. That was the lowest total by the Sabercats since a 20-12 loss to Pinnacle on Sept. 4 of 2015.

The Lancers limited the Sabercats passing attack (82 yards) but they couldn’t stop the rushing game (281 yards and three TDs). Scurran will have to find a way to build upon what Dennis Bene did in order to win.

PREDICTION: Saguaro wins a close one.