Andrew Lind is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Sandra Day O’Connor High School for AZPreps365.com.

According to Sandra Day O’Connor coach Brian Cole, his offense played well on Friday, but Saguaro could not be stopped as the Sabercats defeated the Eagles, 47-3. 

Senior quarterback Devon Dampier was responsible for five of those scores, completing 14 of 22 passes for 206 yards and four passing touchdowns. He also had one rushing touchdown and an interception.

Cole knew heading into this game that Dampier was going to be a threat in both the ground and air game. It was just a matter of how much damage he would cause. 

“His legs are to me the most dangerous thing he has going on, but he throws the ball really well, too,” Cole said. “When he's scrambling, it’s scary because either he's taking off and getting yards or he's gonna find somebody open. The kid is a really good quarterback, man, a really good athlete, and hard to contain.”

Dampier extended plays all night, including a third-and-13 play on the game’s first drive, just as the O’Connor defense thought it would send the Sabercats back to the sideline. Dampier rushed for 13 yards on the next play, followed by a 72-yard completion to senior Dajon Hinton which set up a 10-yard passing touchdown two plays later. 

“He's the best,” Saguaro coach Jason Mohns said. “I wouldn't trade him for any quarterback in America. He’s such a good leader, he’s so smart.” 

O’Connor answered with a 58-yard drive of its own. Similar to week 2 against Red Mountain, senior quarterback Cooper King connected with senior wide receiver Ben Currence on three consecutive plays that tallied 46 yards and positioned the Eagles well into Saguaro territory. 

However, the Sabercats ultimately forced O’Connor into a 34-yard field goal and that was the last time they would see points on the board in their favor all evening. 

“We moved the ball great, we just got to finish jobs,” Currence said. “It's just simple mistakes that backed us up and then we couldn't score.”

Currence referenced mistakes in the first half, which resulted in the Sabercats scoring on both of their next two drives following those errors. O’Connor picked off Dampier, but on the return fumbled the ball back to Saguaro. And minutes before half, the Eagles ran a flea-flicker touchdown play that was later called back after a penalty was called for an illegal lineman upfield. 

Saguaro junior Joseph Clark was responsible for the scoring drive following the interception after he corralled a 22-yard touchdown pass from Dampier. Clark recorded another touchdown late in the third quarter, too, on just his third reception of the night. 

With one quarter to play, things began to fall apart for the Eagles, but Saguaro kept piling on. O’Connor’s King ended his night completing 8 of 21 passes for 69 yards. After Dampier exited, the Sabercats’ backup quarterback, junior Mason Gray, got in on the scoring action with an 18-yard pass to junior running back Jayden Stapple, which extended the score to its final, 47-3. 

O’Connor (2-1) plays at Cesar Chavez next Friday at 7 p.m. Saguaro (2-1) plays at Chandler next Friday at 7 p.m.

“I haven't seen them on film yet or anything,” Cole said when asked about Cesar Chavez. “We got to look at that and they're good. We know they’ve got skilled kids, too, and they're playing good football right now. So we got to step up to the challenge."