GILBERT — Sabino got out to a fast start during Friday night’s Class 3A state quarterfinals, but the bigger, faster No. 1-seeded team in its division adjusted quickly and never looked back.
Top-seeded American Leadership Academy-Gilbert North (11-1) routed No. 9 Sabino 38-7 on Friday night to advance.
The Eagles, in just their fourth year of existence, faces the winner of No. 5 Eagar Round Valley-No. 4 Yuma Catholic in next week’s semifinals scheduled for Saturday afternoon, Nov. 20, at Campo Verde High School in Gilbert.
Sabino finishes the season 8-3.
“They’re the No. 1 team in the state for a reason,” said Sabercats coach Ryan McBrayer. “So hats off to them, they did a very good job. We had some setbacks. We had one of our offensive linemen break his wrist on the second drive so that set us back.”
The line had a hard time with the ALA-GN defense, which sacked Sabino quarterback Cameron Hackworth six times.
“We started out fast, we came out of the gates, we came out and scored that long touchdown, I felt like we could keep it rolling,” Hackworth said. “I don’t know what to say, they played really good defense tonight.”
The Eagles defense, which came into the night allowing just 11 points per game, adjusted quickly after Hackworth connected with Derek Sanchez on a 70-yard catch and run score on the third play of the game.
ALA-GN marched down the field on the ensuing drive and took control. Any chance of stealing momentum seemed to vanish when the Eagles executed its 2-minute offense right before the half to take a 21-7 lead at intermission.
“We had our heads high, we knew we had a tough battle to come back,” Hackworth said. “We did well, but they outplayed us tonight.”
Sabino only got into Eagles territory on one other possession in the first half. And then not again until the fourth quarter, when the game was out of reach.
On Sept. 10, ALA-GN beat Sabino in Tucson 33-21. The Eagles’ only loss is to sister school ALA-Queen Creek, a 4A squad. The team is set to move up to 4A next school year.
The Sabercats last reached the state semifinals in 2018 and made its last title game appearance in 2016. The Eagles reached the state semifinals a year ago, losing to eventual champion Snowflake, after getting to the quarterfinals in 2019. They have not yet appeared in a state final.
Sabino pulled off a minor upset in getting past No. 8 Show Low in the first round, 29-20, with Hackworth throwing two touchdown passes. ALA-GN routed No. 16 Phoenix Christian 57-0 last week in the round of 16.
“I’m very proud of our season,” Hackworth said. “We fought hard all season, coming through a tough schedule, we came out here and showed what we could do.”
