Saguaro continues to win in different ways against great teams.

It won its sixth game of the season and fourth straight after defeating Pinnacle 35-14 Friday night on the road. To remind his team of Saguaro’s expectations, head coach Jason Mohns started a new tradition.

"I wasn't wearing it (2021 Open championship ring) earlier in the year,” he said. “I'm kind of one of those guys that preaches what you did before doesn't really matter. But I felt as we started we weren’t playing like Saguaro and kind of needed to get our swagger back."

He treated his coaches this week with brand new black and yellow Nike Air-Force 1's to rep alongside himself.

"I'm not a real flashy guy, but I figured I'd put the ring and shoes on,” Mohns said. “Sometimes it's mental. We've been playing good football, and I've done it ever since (Liberty loss on Sept. 30). We've been beating good teams. Maybe it's got something to do with it."

The first half was all about a quarterback who also flashed his swagger, Saguaro quarterback Devon Dampier.

In the first half, the senior marked his return to his former school, Pinnacle, with a 6-yard TD pass to junior Joseph Clark and a 27-yard scoring pass to senior tight end Chris Nimcheski.

"It felt weird coming back to my former school, walking past the home locker room, and heading into the visitor's locker room,” Dampier said. “Pinnacle is a great school, which continues to do big things."

With Saguaro senior standout wide receiver Deric English sidelined with a shoulder injury from last week, Dampier said it was pivotal for other guys to fill in different roles.

"I told Chris and Jojo (Clark) earlier this week that they would need to step up against a great Pinnacle defense that liked to stack the box and force us to throw more," Dampier said.

Mohns said he is hopeful for good news about English.

Pinnacle answered with a 3-yard rushing touchdown from All-American senior tight end Duce Robinson on a jet sweep before the half. 14-7 Saguaro.

Starting the second half strong, Pinnacle capped an 80-yard opening drive with a 3-yard TD run from senior running back Jacobie Rucker. That would be Pinnacle's last score of the game.

Saguaro answered with a Dampier 35-yard TD run, senior running back Zaccehus Cooper’s 1-yard TD run and junior running back Jaedon Matthews’ 7-yard TD run.

With this win, Saguaro won its first region title in 6A in its first season in the new conference.

"I think we are in the second best region in the state,” Mohns said. “It's a good region, and for us, a school that has moved up two divisions with 4A enrollment and the fifth toughest schedule in the country, this one is special. One step in the right direction and one of the goals along the way."

Saguaro will attempt to solidify its Open spot next week against another playoff bound team, Brophy.