Sahuaro tackle football converted in the second half on Friday night at Sabino to snap its three-game losing streak and win its third in a row against their eastside rivals.
After trailing 6-2 at the half, 4A No. 34 Sahuaro (2-3) exploded in the second half to top the 3A No. 8 Sabercats (2-3) by a score of 22-14.
“It feels great, we came in first half, it was a ball game, both teams were hustling and we came in that, we came in the locker room halftime, we knew what we had to do,” said Sahuaro senior running back/linebacker Anakin Alexander. “We executed everything that we needed to and this win, it feels great, it feels amazing, but we need to keep producing more; that’s what we need to focus on.”
Sahuaro took its opening drive down the field but Sabino stopped the Cougars on the 1- yard line on fourth and goal. Then on the next play, senior safety/receiver Nicholas Bojorquez got an interception.
Sahuaro again drove down the field but Sabino senior safety/receiver Anthony Dimas got an interception at the goal line.
Sahuaro however responded with a safety from a sack by senior defensive tackle/offensive lineman Bryan Williams.
Senior receiver/cornerback Randy Ahmed caught a 4-yard touchdown for Sabino before the half ended.
To start the second half, Anakin Alexander ran for a 3-yard score to give the Cougs the lead.
“I believe Anakin had about 30 carries, I’m not sure, I know it was up there and he ran his butt off and once we get done with injuries and we get fully healed, we should be back right,” said Sahuaro head coach Algodfrey Alexander.
Anakin Alexander doesn’t mind the extra workload.
“As a running back, that’s like heaven to me, I love getting them carries, you know,” he said. “Shout out to my line because they’re helping me a lot, there’s a lot of beatings being taken out there, but as a running back, it feels amazing to really be able to give my team the push that they needed and really hustle out their mind.”
Bojorquez scored on a 32-yard screen pass to seemingly put the game out of reach at 22-6, but Sabino responded with an 86-yard touchdown reception from Ahmed and cut the lead to 22-14.
Sahuaro and Anakin Alexander ran out the clock to get their third straight win over their rivals.
It’s the first time since 1987 to 1991 that the Cougars have won three in a row against the Sabercats.
“Oh man, is it three in a row?” Algodfrey Alexander said. “Yeah it’s pretty cool; it’s a great game, I mean the kids got something to look up to. When I got here, I don’t even think they cared about winning another game other than that game, so we had to re-align that part because we do play one of the toughest regions.
“This game is important for the rivalry, it was just a lot bigger fish to catch up with at the end of the day.”
Up next for Sabino is their annual tilt with the other 3A South Tucson area team, No. 11 Pusch Ridge (5-1, 3-0), winners of three straight, on Friday at home. PRCA beat defending region champion No. 7 Thatcher 28-21 on Friday.
Sabino or Pusch Ridge have won two of the last three 3A state championship.
Sahuaro meanwhile opens 4A Kino play on Friday at home with No. 9 Walden Grove (3-2). The Red Wolves are expected to get senior quarterback Matt Avelar for the game.
Avelar, who was honorable mention All-6A Central as a sophomore, transferred from Salpointe.
With the Kino gauntlet coming up, Anakin Alexander said their focus against Sabino was more that it was a must win game than about the rivalry.
“We didn’t really come into it as much as a rival perspective, we needed to win this game for our season, that’s where we came in,” Anakin Alexander said. “We came with a chip, we needed this momentum to get back on track, to really start pushing against these other teams that we’re going to play.
“We got to play Walden, we got Mica coming at the end of the season, we need this momentum to play those teams because they’re great players.”
SHORT READS
— Sabino senior fullback/linebacker Christopher Yslas and Sahuaro senior receiver/safety Chris Martinez won the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl and National Football Foundation Southern Arizona Chapter player of the game awards.
— Sabino leads the all-time series 33-20 and 17-6 in the MaxPreps era (since 2004) but two of those three wins in a row for Sahuaro have come on the road.
— The series dates back to 1974, a 21-15 Sahuaro win to close out the season according to azfootballarchives.com.
Recommended for you
