Chandler, Saguaro: By the numbers

December 5, 2019 by Jose Garcia, AZPreps365


Saguaro coach Jason Mohns (left) and Chandler coach Rick Garretson. Photos by Steve Paynter and Steven Davis/maxpreps.com

Who is the 2019-20 big school king of Arizona high school football?

Heck, who will be the king of this decade?

The answers will likely come after Saturday’s heavyweight showdown between Chandler and Saguaro. This year, the Arizona Interscholastic Association, celebrating its 60th anniversary of organizing football state championships, introduced the Open Division.

It couldn’t have come at a better time.

When a season concluded, Arizona high school fans often debated who was the best team in Arizona. That shouldn’t be the case now with 4, 5 and 6A teams battling for the Open crown.

What isn’t clear-cut yet is which program outperformed the others this decade, but Chandler, Centennial, Hamilton and Saguaro can certainly make an I’m-the-best big school argument.

During the offseason azpreps365.com will crunch the numbers and attempt to pick a big and small school program, team, coach and player of the decade. The selections will be presented during the next issue of the Sollenberger’s AZ Football Prep Magazine.

Saturday’s Saguaro-Chandler winner can strengthen its case.

Not a bad way to end this decade.

Chandler-Saguaro by the numbers

1 The amount of playoff games Saguaro has lost this decade. It has won a state championship game every year since since 2010 except for 2012, when it lost to Desert Edge 38-35 in the quarterfinals.

2 The amount of receiving touchdowns Saguaro’s defense has allowed during its current 6-year title run.

3 Current state championship win streak of Chandler. Win on Saturday and Chandler will become the first 5 or 6A school to win four in a row.

4-0 Chandler’s record in championship games. The school was founded in 1914 but didn’t reach its first AIA championship game until 2014.

6 The current state championship win streak of Saguaro, a state record. The team’s record is 89-7 during that span. Jason Mohns has been in charge since 2012.

10.2 Saguaro and Chandler's average for yards per carry, according to their 2019 maxpreps.com stat totals on Wednesday.

11-1 Saguaro’s record in championship games. The only time it lost a final was in 1978, when it made its first championship appearance. It lost that game to a Mesa Mountain View team coached by legend Jesse Parker. Saguaro won its first championship game in 1995 with current University of Texas offensive coordinator Tim Beck at the helm. Blue Ridge has won the most state championships (13) in Arizona.

12 Where Chandler was ranked in this week’s Maxpreps’ top-25 national football rankings.

16 The amount of years Chandler head coach Rick Garretson served as the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Servite High (Calif.), before joining Chandler in 2010. He was named Chandler’s head coach this season. NBA referee legend Darrell Garretson is Garretson’s father.

25 Current win streak of Chandler. It hasn’t lost since dropping a 35-13 decision to Centennial (Calif.) in Week 1 of 2018.

25 The amount of Saguaro and Chandler seniors with college offers, including 18 who will likely play Division I football on scholarship.

27 Where Saguaro was ranked in this week’s Maxpreps’ national rankings.

32 Chandler’s current win streak vs. Arizona teams. The last time it lost to an in-state school was in 2017 to Mountain Pointe (24-21) on Sept. 8.

44.5 Chandler’s points per game average in its four championship games this decade.

49.9 Sagauro’s Parker Lewis’ yards per punt average. It ranks No. 1 in AZ, and his 5,707 total in kickoff yards leads the nation, according to maxpreps. Last year, his per punt average was 51.4. The USC commit’s 82 touchbacks also leads the nation this season.

57 Saguaro’s current win streak vs. Arizona teams. Pinnacle was the last Grand Canyon state team to hand Saguaro a loss. That came in September of 2015 when Saguaro also lost to Peoria Centennial.

62 The amount of sacks for Chandler this season, which leads the state. Saguaro is No. 4 with 46.5.

70 This year marks the 70th anniversary of Chandler’s first football state championship season. The 1949 team won a mythical state crown after defeating Tempe 14-7 at Arizona State’s Goodwin Stadium in front of about 6,000 fans. The AIA started organizing football championship games in 1959.

74.1 Chandler quarterback Mikey Keene’s passing percentage. The state leader in that category among quarterbacks with 200 or more pass attempts.

91 The amount of points Chandler kicker Crew Peterman and Saguaro kicker Parker Lewis have each scored this year. They are the state leaders in points scored by kickers this year.

97 The amount of points Saguaro has given up this year. It’s the only team in the 4, 5 and 6A that hasn’t given up 100 points this year.

107-23 6A’s Chandler’s overall record this decade.

122-15 4A’s Saguaro’s overall record this decade.

1992 The year in which Saguaro and Chandler last met. Their first meeting was in 1967. Saguaro leads the series 5-3-1.