Gritty Saguaro beats rival Chaparral again

The blue collar boys from south Scottsdale put in another honest day’s work.

Again they came away with a reward that money can’t buy.

SLIDESHOW: Saguaro vs. Chaparral football

 SLIDESHOW: Friday night high school football

A ferocious Scottsdale Saguaro defense and two key touchdowns by tight end Max Smith were more than enough as the top-ranked Sabercats defeated visiting No. 3 Scottsdale Chaparral 21-0 on Friday night in a 4A-I Desert Sky Region matchup.

“We came out with the objective to play flawless football, and we did for the most part,” said running back Beau Burton, who carried the ball 27 times for 160 yards and a touchdown. “That’s no disrespect to Chaparral — they’re a great team — but this is what we expected to do.”

The win was the 26th in a row for Saguaro (7-0, 4-0), the back-to-back 4A-I champion.

Saguaro showed its grit all night, holding firm defensively in the first half and then going for the jugular after intermission when Chaparral showed signs of fatigue.

“We work hard,” Saguaro coach John Sanders said. “The whole goal is to be in the championship game, and these kids come back to work each week and focus up. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Chaparral (6-1, 2-1) was missing tight end and leading receiver Tyler Williams. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament two weeks ago against Tempe McClintock and is done for the season.

Leading tackler Craig Roh was bothered by an ankle injury and was in only momentarily in the second half.

The absence of Williams left the offense without a desperately needed playmaker, but coach Charlie Ragle wouldn’t use that as an excuse.

“They just beat us tonight, bottom line,” Ragle said. “I could sit here and make excuses about losing Tyler Williams, but they beat us. They lined up and they whooped our butt.”

The teams were scoreless through the first quarter, and Saguaro didn’t get on the scoreboard until 1:41 was remaining in the first half on a 12-yard pass from quarterback Cole Rarrick to Smith.

The Firebirds seemingly tied the score less than 30 seconds later, but a 30-yard touchdown pass from Spencer Stone to Dwayne Garrett was nullified by a penalty.

Chaparral didn’t score on the possession, and only had three first downs in the second half.

Smith and Rarrick hooked up again on the same play with 4:42 remaining in the third quarter to make it 14-0, and Burton drove the stake in with an 11-yard touchdown run to make it 21-0 after three quarters.

The Sabercats have beaten the Firebirds three times in a year and five days, one coming in last year’s 4A-I state semifinals.

The rivalry may lose its luster or end completely after this year because Chaparral moves up to 5A-II in 2009.

“Preparing for Chaparral is my favorite time, my favorite week of practice,” Smith said. “I don’t care if they go to 6A, I’d love to play them.”