Logan Brown is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Saguaro High School for AZPreps365.com

Senior running back Jaedon Matthews led Saguaro with four touchdowns in the Sabercats’ 42-32 victory over Perry in the 6A quarterfinal Friday. 

The game didn’t start well for either side, as Perry and Saguaro combined to lose three fumbles in the first quarter alone. Mason Bray gave the Sabercats the early edge with a 2-yard touchdown scramble after the first quarter. 

From there, the game turned to the ground. Matthews extended Saguaro’s lead with a 53-yard touchdown run through the heart of the Pumas’ defense. 

Saguaro’s offense did anything it wanted Friday night, through the air or on the turf. Bray completed 20 of 24 passes for 233 yards, while adding 69 yards rushing and his rushing score. He found junior wideout Mason Whitaker eight times for 84 yards. Bray credited the team’s preparation throughout the week for the offensive success. 

“Probably the best week of practice we’ve had all season,” Bray said. “We had to come out here and execute, that what it came down to. My o-line played their best game of the season. I can’t thank those guys enough. We just came out here and executed, and it showed on the scoreboard.” 

In the third quarter, Matthews’ backup, Jacob Brown, took off down the Perry sideline for a 64-yard touchdown, sending the Saguaro sideline into a frenzy. Brown’s score opened the Sabercats’ lead to 28-16 with just over nine minutes remaining.  

Matthews spoke glowingly of his teammate in the backfield. 

“My man Jacob Brown, I’m going to pass the baton to him next year,” Matthews said. “He’s a great player, a great kid, and that’s exactly what he just showed tonight.” 

Bray praised both Matthews and Brown’s efforts against a physical Perry defense. 

“I don’t know how a defense is supposed to stop that [Matthews and Brown],” Bray said. “One gets tired, we put in the other one. That’s unstoppable. Two best running backs in the state with one of the best o-lines in the state. I mean, what could go wrong?” 

Late in the fourth quarter, the Pumas showed some fight with their season on the line. With Saguaro leading 35-16, the Pumas scored two touchdowns in less than two minutes after recovering an onside kick. Suddenly, the Sabercats’ 19-point lead had dwindled to just three with two-and-a half minutes to go. 

After a second onside kick attempt from Perry was recovered by Saguaro, head coach Zak Hill leaned on his star running back once more. Needing one first down to end the game, Matthews scampered to the outside for a 51-yard score to ice the game. Matthews finished the night with 23 carries for 197 yards and a staggering four rushing scores.  

Hill acknowledged the strong performances from Matthews and Brown to end the night. 

“I thought they did a great job,” Hill said. “They held on to the football at the end, fighting for extra yardage. We had to go get that first down to seal it and get into victory [formation], and they got it done.” 

Saguaro corner Jakobi Spence made a diving interception at midfield to finish off the ten-point victory for Saguaro, setting up a rematch with Salpointe Catholic in Tucson for the semifinal. The Lancers defeated the Sabercats 21-14 in late October in Scottsdale. Hill reiterated the team’s day-by-day mindset as it moves on in the playoffs.

“We’re getting better and better and we’re starting to come together even more as a team,” Hill said. “The guys are believing. Even in practice you can see it’s playoff football. You can see we’re getting closer to that goal of winning a state championship. But we just try to stay within the moment, stay within the day and keep trying to get better.”

Saguaro will travel to Tuscon to face Salpointe Catholic at 7 p.m. Friday for a spot in the 6A state championship game.