Anthony Yero is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Saguaro High School for AZPreps365.com.

A 90-minute weather delay wasn’t enough to stop the flash that Saguaro came out with Friday night, but the Sabercats failed to respond in a 31-21 loss to Chandler at Austin Field.

“Once they made a couple plays in a row, we kind of choked up a little bit,” Saguaro head coach Jason Mohns said. “We stopped executing.

The rematch of last year’s Open State Championship was the biggest attraction in the Valley.

All-Pro NFL quarterback Kyler Murray headlined the stars on the Saguaro sideline, alongside his Arizona Cardinal teammates Byron Murphy, Budda Baker and Eno Benjamin.

The forecast favored Saguaro early.

Saguaro withheld a lengthy opening drive from Chandler and blocked a short field goal, but senior quarterback Devon Dampier threw a goalline interception on the opening drive for the Sabercats.

The Saguaro offense didn't come up short on its second drive. 

Dampier pounded the ball into the goaline and senior running back Jaedon Matthews topped off the drive with a one-yard rushing touchdown to put Saguaro up in the second quarter.

With momentum, Saguaro forced a turnover after senior linebacker John Butler registered a first-down sack. Facing more pressure, junior quarterback Dylan Raiola threw an interception to sophomore Dajon Hinton. Raiola, the top-ranked recruit in the 2024 class.

Dampier quickly capitalized, connecting with senior receiver Deric English on a contested 12-yard touchdown reception. The 6-foot-4 receiver didn’t play in last week’s win over O’Connor, but he’s become Dampier’s favorite target.

“There’s nobody that can guard Deric one-on-one,” Dampier said. “Any time I see him one-on-one I know it’s a catch, so it’s pretty easy to have someone like that as a quarterback.”

Leading 14-0 with all the momentum, the Sabercats missed out on an opportunity for a pick six late in the first half. A pass interference call on third down gave Chandler restored life, and Raiola finally showed off his highly touted arm strength, connecting with Jaxon Branch on a 50-yard touchdown.

“I don’t think that as a group, when the momentum swung, we answered the bell well enough,” Mohns said.

Chandler’s defense confined Dampier late in the first half, and the Wolves capitalized on a field goal after forcing a three-and-out.

That was the start Chandler forcing four consecutive three-and-outs.

The Wolves capitalized on those quick defensive stops. 

Dampier, who finished with 62 rushing yards, was looking for any sort of opening, but was shut down in the third quarter. Penalties on defense kept Chandler moving down the field with ease, and a 25-yard screen pass to Ca’lil Valentine gave the Wolves their first lead.

Junior running back Gio Borea added a 4-yard score to put Chandler up, 24-14, at the end of the third quarter.

“We busted on some routes, we had some missed coverages, some missed reads," Mohns said. "Then the penalties started. We got uncomfortable and we didn’t settle back in well enough.”

Saguaro opened the fourth quarter the same way it did the second half, with a three-and-out, and the Wolves sealed the deal with a 79-yard touchdown run from Valentine on the first play of the drive.

The junior running back amassed his 10th rushing touchdown in four games.

Saguaro put an end to the Wolves’ 31 unanswered points with a long drive late in the fourth that was carried by Dampier, and topped off by a Matthews' goal-line score.

“You saw once we stopped being startled we came back out and were moving the ball again,” Dampier said. “We just have to learn to get through those moments when we’re down.”

The loss puts Saguaro at .500 for the first time since 2019, but the record doesn’t speak for the level of opponents the Sabercats have faced thus far. Both losses have come to teams ranked inside the top 15 of MaxPreps’ national rankings – Chandler (No. 9) and Bergen Catholic (No. 13).

“We’re playing against great competition,” Mohns said. “We’ve got tough games every week. Our schedule is probably one of the most difficult schedules in the history of high school football in Arizona."

The 2021 state championship rematch was certainly anticipated, but the gold ball isn’t being crowned until December. For now, the focus is on regrouping as a championship program.

“Saguaro faced adversity early last season after losing to Chaparral,” said MyKhael Sanford, who’s been covering Arizona high school sports for two seasons. “Their program is all about winning, and they’ve proved it at the highest level. I expect Saguaro to regroup and continue firing this season.”

The Sabercats host undefeated Liberty next week.