Bray, special teams lead Saguaro past Mountain View
September 2, 2023 by Ben Stapley, AZPreps365
For 12 minutes Friday night at Saguaro High, it looked like a shootout was in the works between the host Sabercats and visiting Mountain View Toros.
The teams combined for 27 points, 257 passing yards and four touchdown passes in the first quarter alone.
Mountain View storms right back behind Jack Germaine, who finds Isaac Jean Pierre from 29 yards. Toros lead Saguaro 7-6 midway thru the 1st quarter. @jackgermaine10 pic.twitter.com/BvIM9JBYTq
— Ben Stapley (@AZpreps365Ben) September 2, 2023
But it was a monster special teams play that changed the course of the game and catapulted Saguaro to a convincing 44-20 victory over Mountain View in a non-region 6A contest.
Saguaro quarterback Mason Bray led the way offensively, completing 18 of 22 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for two more.
“It was just a great effort by everyone tonight and our defense and special teams really stepped up after the first quarter,” Bray said afterward.
Early in the second quarter, Saguaro kicker Bo Hampton drilled a 42-yard field goal, giving Saguaro a 16-14 lead.
Mountain View then drove to Saguaro’s 35 before settling for its own field goal attempt.
Mason Lindbergh lined up for a 44-yarder and potential 17-16 lead.
But Saguaro had its own designs, as defenders were able to break through and block Lindbergh’s kick. Senior Jaci Dickerson then scooped up the ball with nothing but 55 yards of green turf between he and the end zone.
Saguaro makes a huge special teams play, blocking a FG attempt before Jaci Dickerson scoops it and and takes it 55 yards for the score. Saguaro 23 Mt. View 14 midway thru 2Q pic.twitter.com/9dUB588zzz
— Ben Stapley (@AZpreps365Ben) September 2, 2023
That made the score 23-14, and sucked the wind and momentum out of the Mountain View sideline.
The shootout was essentially over, as Saguaro’s defense clamped down and Bray guided the offense efficiently. Bray’s 16-yard scramble gave Saguaro a 30-14 lead.
“Great teams make great plays like that,” Bray said about the blocked field goal return.
Before the blocked field goal, Mountain View quarterback Joe Germaine was having his way with Saguaro, tossing touchdown passes of 29 and 38 yards to Isaac Jean-Pierre and Karendus Poe, respectively.
After the blocked field goal, Saguaro’s defense forced two interceptions, one inside its own 10 yard line, thwarting a Toro scoring drive.
Germaine finished with 177 yards through the air, much of which came in the first half.
Segall Kamdan and Jakobi Spence caught touchdowns for Saguaro in the first quarter. Tailback Jaedon Matthews added 117 rushing yards.
During the game, a late hit was called, resulting in some ejections. Video of what happened after the penalty was being reviewed Saturday, the AIA’s commissioner of officials, Brian Gessner, said.
Saguaro (2-0) will host defending Open state champion Basha (1-1) next week in a rematch of last season’s championship game.
