Open Division: Who wins between Chandler and Saguaro in high school football championship rematch?

Before the season began, what Scottsdale Saguaro had on paper, especially for the second half of the season, looked good enough to be the best high school football team in Arizona.

But Sabercats coach Jason Mohns said then that Chandler is the best in Arizona until someone beats them.

Well, Hamilton beat Chandler in the regular-season finale that ended the Wolves' 45-game winning streak.

But it didn't stop the Wolves' pursuit of another gold ball.

What awaits Saguaro (11-1) on Saturday at 5 p.m., at Sun Devil Stadium, is a Chandler team (11-1) that is coming off maybe the greatest comeback in school history, or at least during its run of five consecutive state titles and six championships in seven years.

The Sabercats are just as resilient. Just as talented. They're big up front. They're fast on defense. And they won't be intimidated.

This is a rematch of the first Open Division state championship in 2019, a 42-35 Chandler win. Chandler jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, then held on at the end in the rain.

There's no rain in the forecast Saturday. But there's a familiarity and respect between the two head coaches — Mohns and Chandler's Rick Garretson.

Garretson has navigated Chandler though the Open era. He is 34-1 as head coach since taking over before the 2019 season at Chandler. His back-to-back Open titles added to Chandler's three 6A titles in a row under Shaun Aguano before that.

Mohns won six championships in a row in his team's conference playoffs, before the Open came about two years ago and Saguaro made it there every year since.

Last year, positive COVID-19 cases the day before the 'Cats were to play Salpointe Catholic in the Open quarterfinals prevented them from pursuing another shot at playing Chandler again for the big trophy.

This time, Saguaro is ready. But so is Chandler, after feeling its been given a new lease on life after surviving six turnovers and 21-13 deficit in the last minute to pull out a 27-21 overtime win over Liberty last week in the semifinals.

Senior tight end Nason Coleman made a remarkable catch in the end zone on OT to give Chandler its first lead, before defensive end Amar Elmore batted down a Navi Bruzon pass, then sacked him, before Bruzon was intercepted by safety Franky Morales in the end zone to end it.

Chandler could breathe again. But now comes the pressure of trying to contain an electric quarterback in Saguaro junior Devon Dampier.

"You have to account for the quarterback as a runner," Garretson said about Dampier, who has been unleashed by Mohns in the Open playoffs. "It's hard."

Dampier has been a difference maker. He didn't start his first game until Glendale Cactus to start the Open tournament. He led the 'Cats to a 28-7 first-half lead in a 42-21 win.

Last week, in a 31-24 upset of No. 1 Hamilton, Dampier ran for 204 yards and three touchdowns and completed 5 of 8 passes for 95 yards, as he did not get sacked once against a front seven that was among the best in Arizona at getting to the quarterback.

Saguaro ran all over Hamilton, gaining 281 yards on 38 carries.

To do that to Chandler, it's going to take another colossal effort from an offensive line led by Parker Brailsford.

"Jason's best offenses have always had a running quarterback," Garretson said.

This year's Open playoffs has shown how much Arizona high school football has developed just in the past few years. When was the last time three Arizona high schools were ranked among the top 25 in the nation at the same time?

Chandler is No. 16, Saguaro 23 and Hamilton 25 this week by MaxPreps.

"When I came here in 2005 (from Southern California), I looked at Arizona football going, 'Ooooh,' " Garretson said. "We were behind times. And now ... "

It's off the charts better. Garretson said a friend from California who watched his game against Hamilton, told him he thought he was watching a Trinity League game.

Southern California's Trinity League features three of the nation's top programs -- Mater Dei, St. John Bosco and Servite. Garretson came to Arizona in the mid-2000s from Servite, where he coached.

Mohns believes the Open needs to continue after this year, but needs to get tweaked as far as who gets in.

With the Arizona Interscholastic Association moving teams up and down every year based on success, Mohns believes next year there could be 45 teams in 6A.

"I still feel you need to pull the top eight from 6A to play in the Open, then have the next 16 to play in the 6A tournament," Mohns said. "What's happened is, you had your best teams spread out among 6A, 5A and 4A, so you had your three best teams playing for championships. If you move everybody up to 6A and get rid of the Open, you've got all your best teams playing for one trophy. I don't think that's the right thing to do, either."

Before Saguaro makes that expected move up another level (it had gone from 4A to 5A because it had become so dominant), there is a huge game Saturday.

It will come down to the trenches, and who holds up better to the pressure.

Prediction: Saguaro 29, Chandler 28

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Who wins between Chandler and Saguaro in Open final rematch?