GLENDALE — Saturday’s Class 4A state championship game between Scottsdale Saguaro and Catalina Foothills was both a rematch and a replay.
The only differences were the field (at University of Phoenix Stadium), the stakes (a championship) and the final score.
Saguaro scored five unanswered first-half touchdowns and cruised to a 42-14 win over Foothills in the Falcons’ first-ever state championship football game. The Sabercats’ fourth consecutive state title was dominant, just like its run through then playoffs. Saguaro (13-0) outscored its opponents 183-20 in four postseason games.
Sabercats back Stone Matthews set the tone on Saturday, rushing 16 times for 113 yards and three touchdowns. The showing allowed Matthews to surpass 2,000 rushing yards for the season; he finishes his senior year with 31 scores.
“I was in my zone today,” said Matthews, who scored on runs of 3, 3 and 1 yards, all in the first half. “I am thankful for my offensive line. I have four rings and a heavy hand.”
It didn’t take Saguaro long to get on the board.
A 57-yard punt return by Jacob Christofferson set up a 3-yard touchdown run by Matthews. Christofferson got tripped up on the return or he would’ve scored. No matter: Christofferson found the end zone with 6:57 left in the first half.
“It wasn’t how we wanted to start out, but we knew we could make plays,” Foothills quarterback Rhett Rodriguez said of giving up the first quick score. “That didn’t make us doubt ourselves.”
The Falcons (11-3) marched down the field on their second drive before stalling in the red zone. Rodriguez threw an incomplete pass on third-and-16 from the 17, and a field goal attempt hit the cross bar and dinged right for a miss.
After giving up a quick touchdown in the third quarter, a 30-yard pass from junior quarterback Max Massingale (12 of 16 passing, 123 yards) to Christofferson, the Falcons’ defense stepped up. Saguaro wouldn’t score again.
“The leadership stepped up and we knew it was our last time with this group,” said Foothills linebacker Brandon Smith, who entered his final game with 107 tackles. “How did we want this story to end? The one we would tell our grandkids one day. We wanted it all left on the field.”
Saturday’s result mimicked what happened when the teams met in September. Saguaro led 35-0, just like it did Saturday, and ended up winning the first game by that same score.
This time, however, the Falcons wouldn’t be shut out. Foothills scored two second-half touchdowns, both coming on Rodriguez runs. The UA-bound senior rushed 29 times for 86 yards and two touchdowns and completed 15 of 20 passes for 105 yards.
Tears flowed on the field following Saturday’s game. The Falcons managed a few smiles, too.
“As bad as this loss feels, no one expected us to be here,” senior Heath Kleindienst said. “One thing to be happy about is that we accomplished everything but the state title and that ain’t too bad.”
