Growing Pains: Opponents May Be The Ones Feeling The Pain
Richard Obert - 8/27/2009

Growing pains

It might be Scottsdale Saguaro High's football opponents feeling most of the pain.

Saguaro coach John Sanders

found more good than bad in his team's scrimmage at Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain. The three-time defending Class 4A Division I champions had 203 yards and six rushing touchdowns. They had 130 passing yards. They held Bradshaw Mountain to 150 net yards and two rushing TDs. Sophomore quarterback Kyle Faunce looked sharp. Sophomore running back Lucas Petrollo had a long scoring run.

But projected starting junior running back/linebacker Danny Clark suffered a knee injury that will cause him to miss at least part of the season.

Four touchdowns were called back by penalties.

"The young kids stepped up and showed a good sign that they will be able to compete," Sanders said.

After breezing through a 28-0 record his first two seasons at Saguaro, Sanders' biggest concern is getting inexperienced sophomores and juniors to blend with a core group of linemen.

That core comprises Kody Inness (6 feet 5 inches, 275 pounds), Jordan McDonald (6-4, 235) and Cyrus Hobbi (6-4, 275).

The team has had its share of adversity. It now is dealing with the sudden death of a player's sister.

Saguaro opens until Sept. 4 against Glendale Copper Canyon.

By then, Sanders hopes to have this team ready to vie for another state championship. There is tradition now, a sense of invincibility in a program that hasn't lost since 2006.

Despite diminishing numbers on campus, Saguaro prides itself on being among the best football programs in Arizona, regardless of classification.

But with the loss of eight players who received football scholarships to four-year colleges, including three to Arizona State (linemen Corey Adams and Kody Koebensky, and tight end/linebacker Max Smith), Saguaro will lean on sophomores and juniors to get into the end zone.

There is talent. And size. A college coach asked Sanders who the senior was last spring when he spotted 6-3, 225-pound wide receiver/linebacker Brock Haman. Haman was a sophomore then.

"A lot of these guys never played anything but Pop Warner and freshman football," Sanders said.

Saguaro Sabercats

Region: Class 4A Division I Desert Sky.

Coach: John Sanders.

2008 record: 14-0, 4A-I state champions.

Top returners: Kody Innes, 6-5, 275, Sr., OL; Jordan McDonald, 6-4, 235, Sr., DL; Cyrus Hobbi, 6-4, 275, Jr., OL; Dallas Noriega, 6-0, 250, Jr., OL/DL.