Down 21-13 with 9:52 left in the game, Sabino went on a time-consuming drive from their own 22 to a third-and-13 at Sahuaro's 19 with only 2:35 left. Emilio Araiza had thrown for 200 yards at that point, including a 50-yard touchdown strike earlier in the game, and the Sabino senior had one more shot to draw the Sabercats closer.

He had missed on a scoring chance on the previous play after tight end Bobby Martinez had worked himself to a wide-open position in the end zone so it was only natural to believe someone would get open again. Then came Omar Lloyd.

Lloyd is considered one of the best corners in the state and he would not get beat again. This time, the senior stepped into the passing lane and intercepted Araiza at the goal line and ran it out 10-yards in what looked like a games-saving play with 2:21 left.

It was Araiza's third interception of the game. Quaundre "Q" Yancy had picked him off in the first quarter and Derik Hall did the same in the second. Yancy's pick came after Sabino had earned great field position after forcing Sahuaro to punt and Hall's resulted in a 75-yard return for a touchdown.  Even though Yancy fumbled the ball back to Sabino after returning his pick 60 yards, it was clear Sahuaro's defensive backs were on to something.

"I read his eyes," said Hall. "I read his eyes all the way. It felt good to be a part of this win but this game is over with and we need to move on."

It is clearly one of the last true and not made-up football rivalries in the Tucson area. Unlike Canyon del Oro and Ironwood Ridge or Cienega and Mountain View or Salpointe against everyone, this rivalry is historic. It's what Amphitheater and Sunnyside used to have in the 1970's and early 1980's - standing room only crowds with bad blood spilling over.

Forget social media, someone went "old school" and painted the Sahuaro Cougar Statue purple last night (among other things). Although destruction of property cannot be condoned, a prank like that draws a familiar tone to those who have played a competitive sport against a heated rival. Besides, they mostly backfire and everything was cleaned up by lunch.

But a victory by Sabino Friday night might have ended any thoughts of this game being considered a true "rivalry" anymore. The Sabercats had won 11 games in a row and Sahuaro had only beaten them three times since in 1992. The only thing keeping the game a rivalry is a shared middle school and a Sahuaro coaching staff that, ironically,  helped bring dominance to Sabino.

Sahuaro head coach Scott McKee and defensive coordinator Brian Graves were vital parts of Jeff Scurran's run with the Sabercats as players and they are now the reason for the slow shift back to Sahuaro.

Araiza is one of the state's best quarterbacks and for good reason. To stop him, McKee counted on Graves and Graves "came through."

"His defense was great," explained McKee. "He is the best defensive coordinator in the state and he proved it tonight. The defense went out and got us a victory. It paid off."

Even though Lloyd had ended Sabino's late threat, Graves and his defense was called upon once more after a potentially disastrous fumble gave the ball back to Sabino with 38.4 seconds left. Still down 21-13, Sabino was back in business at Sahuaro's 37.

Then came Lloyd, again. A diving interception on the next play ended the game for good.

The Cougars came out and drove 80-yards to open the game with junior QB Stephen Miller strolling in from 3-yards out for the score. Miller hit Yancy for a 30-yard gain and Lloyd for a 27-yard pass in the scoring drive.

Down 7-0, Sabino would cut the lead down to 7-3 on a 22-yard field goal by Bailey Nottingham in the second quarter. Sahuaro's defense had prevented Sabino from cashing in on a second-and-goal from the 1-yardline to force the field goal.

Sahuaro recovered an onsides kick, giving them great field position at their 46. Miller took advantage and hit Yancy on a 54-yard strike to make it 14-3.

Sabino took over and began to drive again but Hall came up with his interception and 75-yard return to make the score 21-3 to end all scoring in the first half.

Sabino came out of the locker room and struck quickly on a 50-yard pass from Araiza to A.J. McBrayer to cut the lead down to 21-10. With Sahuaro's offense beginning to stall thanks to Sabino's equally smothering defense, Sabino saw an opportunity to take momentum over.

Nottingham made a 27-yarder to make the lead 21-13 with 3:24 left in the third. Sahuaro punted and Sabino took over with 9:52 left in the game.

Araiza finished with 200 yards (15-28) with a touchdown but he also had four interceptions. McBrayer finished with 108 yards receiving and Marquis Chamblee had 74 yards rushing.

For Sahuaro, Miller went 8-10 for 138 yards and a touchdown with Yancy bringing down 104 yards of that total. Hall rushed for 61 yards to lead the team.

Sabino (0-2) will travel to Goodyear Desert Edge (2-1) next Friday and Sahuaro (2-0) will visit Casa Grande Vista Grande (1-1).

 

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