Catalina Foothills’ lopsided loss in Saturday’s 4A state championship game to mega-power Scottsdale Saguaro means two things.
One, Foothills had a terrific season and a climb to the state finals. Two, Saguaro, which has won nine state titles in 11 years, should not be playing in Class 4A.
Yes, it technically fits the AIA’s requirements to play in that classification, but it has the resources be play in Class 6A.
As Foothills coach Jeff Scurran told me last week: “I watched Saguaro on film in the playoffs and they seemed bored. It was too easy for them. Our season has been so much different. We laughed, we cried, we had ups and downs. It was so much fun. Saguaro almost seemed emotionless.”
There have been plenty of lopsided state championship games. Tucson High’s 1970 team for the ages routed Phoenix Sunnyslope 54-16. Marana Mountain View’s epic 1993 team rolled over Sahuaro 63-32.
But those high school football teams were cyclical, the product of good timing, good coaching and a bunch of talented athletes in the neighborhood walking through the doors to play for skilled coaches like Ollie Mayfield and Wayne Jones.
Sadly, it’s not a neighborhood game any more.
