Scottsdale Saguaro is set to play a football game after a two-week hiatus following injuries that piled up in its 62-0 loss to Scottsdale Desert Mountain on Aug. 28.
Coach Butch Goncharoff texted The Republic earlier this week that his team will play on Friday, Sept. 18, at home against Glendale Mountain Ridge.
The Sabercats were down to 32 players after about 35 players transferred out over the winter and spring. Goncharoff was having to play six freshmen in the Desert Mountain loss. Then, the injuries derailed the season. Saguaro was forced to cancel its lower-level programs because of low numbers.
With injuries and a need to heal up, Saguaro canceled its game the week after Desert Mountain, which was supposed to be against rival Scottsdale Chaparral.
It had to cancel again last week against ALA Queen Creek, as the Sabercats were still recovering. Chaparral found another team, Tempe, to fill the date.
The ALA Queen Creek game canceled last week counted as a forfeit loss for the Sabercats, according to the Arizona Interscholastic Association. The Patriots did play another opponent after Saguaro canceled the Sept. 10 game.
Mountain Ridge (2-1) has bounced back since a season-opening 37-0 loss to 5A Glendale Cactus. Mountain Ridge beat Mesa Desert Ridge 51-8, and Phoenix Mountain Pointe 30-29. Andrew Johnson, the former offensive coordinator at Saguaro during part of the Sabercats' dynasty, coaches the team.
Saguaro has won 13 state championships, 12 since 2006, with the last coming in 2023 under coach Zak Hill. Goncharoff, an assistant on last year's team under Darius Kelly at Saguaro, wasn't hired until April, after the school had to go through a second coaching search. That happened after the initial hire, Jason Ronquillo, declined the job.
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. Catch the best high school sports coverage in the state. Sign up for Azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don't miss a thing. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Saguaro football set to play after canceling last two games
