In one of the best high school football games of the 2022 season, Saguaro (Scottsdale) overcame a 42-28 fourth-quarter deficit to pull off a wild 43-42 win over Liberty (Peoria) in the Arizona Open Division semifinals. The Sabercats are back in the MaxPreps Top 25 for the second time this season, checking in at No. 24. They've won seven in a row since a 2-3 start and are playing their best football of the season after a very tough non-league schedule.
Senior quarterback
Devon Dampier willed his team to a one-point victory converting three fourth-down conversions trailing 42-35. He led the Sabercats on a 95-yard drive capped off with a 23-yard touchdown on fourth-and-8 to sophomore
Mason Whitaker to cut the lead to 42-41 with 1:10 remaining. Saguaro went for the lead and Dampier connected with senior running back
Zaccheus Cooper for the game-winning two point conversion. Senior cornerback
Carlos Griffin sealed the game with an interception on Liberty's next possession, sending Saguaro to the Open Division state championship.
The defending Open Division state champs face No. 21 Basha (Chandler) on Dec. 10 at Arizona State University. The Bears shutout Chandler 13-0 in the other semifinal matchup. This will be the first state championship game for Basha.
No. 18 Mill Creek (Hoschton) and No. 20 Carrollton both won in the Georgia AAAAAAA semifinals setting up a MaxPreps Top 25 showdown in the state championship on Dec. 10. Five-star safety
Caleb Downs led the Hawks to a 48-14 win over Milton and freshman standout
Julian Lewis threw for two touchdowns in a 35-27 win over Colquitt County (Moultrie). He has 43 passing touchdowns on the season and has thrown for over 3,500 yards.
No. 1 St. John Bosco (Bellflower) is one win away from winning its fourth CIF Open Division state championship since 2013 and faces
Serra (San Mateo) on Dec. 10. Both teams were idle last week.
The biggest game next week takes place in Texas as No. 8 North Shore (Houston) faces No. 9 Westlake (Austin) in the 6A Division 1 semifinals. The Chaparrals have the longest active winning streak in the country at 54 wins while the Mustangs have reeled off 27 in a row. The Mustangs had one of the most impressive wins last week beating Atascocita (Humble) 38-7. Austin Westlake cruised to a 47-7 win over Brennan (San Antonio). The winner will face either No. 12 Duncanville or
Prosper on Dec. 17 in the state championship.
Guyer (Denton) moved up a couple spots this week to No. 10 in the MaxPreps Top 25 after a 45-21 win over Southlake Carroll (Southlake) in the Texas 6A Division 2 quarterfinals. Five-star Oklahoma commit
Jackson Arnold completed 24 of 31 passes for 303 yards and two touchdowns to go with 27 carries for 149 yards and four more scores. Up next for the Wildcats is
DeSoto with a spot in the state championship game on the line. The winner faces either No. 16 Katy or
Vandegrift (Austin) on Dec. 17.
Saguaro quarterback Devon Dampier led the Sabrecats to the Arizona Open Division finals with a wild 43-42 comeback win in the semifinals over Liberty. (Photo: Steve Paynter)
Record: 12-1 | Last week: 1
Last week: Idle
Next week: Dec. 10 vs. Serra (San Mateo)
Record: 12-1 | Last week: 2
Season complete
Record: 13-0 | Last week: 3
Last week: Beat Lakewood (St. Petersburg) 39-21
Next week: Idle
Record: 13-1 | Last week: 4
Season complete
Record: 12-0 | Last week: 5
Last week: Beat True North Classical Academy (Miami) 56-0
Next week: Dec. 8 vs. Clearwater Central Catholic (Clearwater)
Record: 8-1 | Last week: 6
Season complete
Record: 13-0 | Last week: 7
Last week: Beat Jesuit (Tampa) 45-3
Next week: Idle
Record: 14-0 | Last week: 8
Last week: Beat Atascocita (Humble) 38-7
Next week: Dec. 10 vs. No. 9 Westlake (Austin)
Record: 14-0 | Last week: 9
Last week: Beat Brennan (San Antonio) 47-7
Next week: Dec. 10 vs. No. 8 North Shore (Houston)
Record: 14-0 | Last week: 12
Last week: Beat Southlake Carroll (Southlake) 45-21
Next week: Dec. 10 vs. DeSoto
Record: 13-1 | Last week: 10
Last week: Beat Bolles (Jacksonville) 21-14
Next week: Idle
Record: 13-0 | Last week: 11
Last week: Beat Westfield (Houston) 28-21
Next week: Dec. 10 vs. Prosper
Record: 9-1 | Last week: 13
Season complete
Record: 13-0 | Last week: 15
Last week: Beat Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville) 42-0
Season complete
Record: 13-0 | Last week: 16
Last week: Beat Osceola (Kissimmee) 14-7
Next week: Idle
Record: 14-0 | Last week: 17
Last week: Beat King (Houston) 56-34
Next week: Dec. 10 vs. Vandegrift (Austin)
Record: 14-0 | Last week: 18
Last week: Beat Rome 42-3
Next week: Dec. 9 vs. Gainesville
Record: 13-1 | Last week: 19
Last week: Beat Milton 48-14
Next week: Dec. 10 vs. No. 20 Carrollton
Record: 15-1 | Last week: 20
Last week: Beat Springfield 28-14
Season complete
Record: 14-0 | Last week: 25
Last week: Beat Colquitt County (Moultrie) 35-27
Next week: Dec. 10 vs. No. 18 Mill Creek (Hoschton)
Record: 11-1 | Last week: 22
Last week: Beat Chandler 13-0
Next week: Dec. 10 vs. No. 24 Saguaro (Scottsdale)
Record: 11-1 | Last week: 24
Last week: Beat Garnet Valley (Glen Mills) 48-7
Next week: Dec. 10 vs. Harrisburg
Record: 11-1 | Last week: NR
Season complete
Record: 9-3 | Last week: NR
Last week: Beat Liberty (Peoria) 43-42
Next week: Dec. 10 vs. No. 21 Basha (Chandler)
Record: 11-1 | Last week: 14
Season complete
