Saguaro football to play at Sierra Canyon next season in new Zak Hill era

Scottsdale Saguaro will travel to play Chatsworth (California) Sierra Canyon next football season in the new Zak Hill coaching era, Saguaro Athletic Director Matt Harris said.

The game is scheduled for Sept. 22.

Saguaro reached the Open Division state championship game in coach Jason Mohns' last season. Sierra Canyon went 10-5 last season, fell a game short of the California Interscholastic Federation state championship game last season, falling to San Diego Lincoln 37-14 in the CIF State Division 1-AA Southern California Regional championship bowl game.

Hill, who served two years as Arizona State's offensive coordinator, took over the Saguaro program from Mohns, who left to become the tight ends coach at ASU under Kenny Dillingham.

Sierra Canyon finished ranked No. 9 in California in the MaxPreps rankings.

Two seasons ago, Saguaro played host to the California heavyweight and won, 24-7, with Javen Jacobs, now at Arizona State, having a big game with a touchdown pass and a rushing score.

That was quarterback Devon Dampier's first game at Saguaro after transferring from Phoenix Pinnacle. Dampier eventually took over as starter in the playoffs and led Saguaro to the Open state championship his junior year.

Saguaro will be searching for a new quarterback in Hill's first season as head coach, but returns a good blend of skill players and linemen, led by running back Jaedon Matthews, athlete JoJo Clark and wide receiver/defensive back Dajon Hinton.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Saguaro football to play at California's Sierra Canyon next season