Heading into his second season at Saguaro High School, coach Darius Kelly is beginning to establish his culture at what was once an Arizona football powerhouse.
The Sabercats finished just 1-9 in 2024, Kelly’s first season. It was Saguaro’s first losing campaign since the team went 5-6 in 2005. It was not what Saguaro supporters have come to expect from a program that has won 14 state championships, including a 6A title as recently as 2023.
Only Blue Ridge High in Lakeside has won more state championships than the Sabercats.
“Last year was obviously my first year at the helm,” said Kelly, who was Saguaro’s third head coach in three years when he took over last season. “A lot of moving parts last year, a lot of guys moving around, a lot of transfers, but this year we’ve been together since November.
“I think that’s just the biggest thing – these guys are playing like a brotherhood, they’re playing together and they want to win together.”
The Sabercats bounced back from a season-opening 24-21 loss to Desert Mountain High by beating rival Chaparral High, another tradition-rich Scottsdale football program, 23-10 in Saguaro’s home opener. They travel to Tucson to face a 2-0 Salpointe Catholic team next.
Saguaro has returned several key starters, including quarterback Marcel Jones, a senior who has committed to Sacramento State, and Kydel Stone, a cornerback headed to Hawaii. The returners have led the way in building chemistry as the Sabercats try to re-establish a winning culture.
The Sabercats were impressive defensively against the Firebirds, who scored 56 points in their season opener against Avondale’s West Point Dragons. Stone said the Sabercats were prepared.
“Well, the big part of what we do is we watch film,” Stone said. “We watch film like we watch Saturday games. When it comes down to watching film, we really watch every detail on what they do on first-and-10 or third-and-3. When we come out to practice … our scout offense, they come out and they go full speed to give us a good look.”
Jones and Stone were named captains, an opportunity to lead a prestigious Arizona high school football program. They consider it a huge honor and have big expectations.
“Being a captain, obviously it means a lot to any player, any sport, so it just reminds me that my teammates love to see me play,” Jones said. “They’re able to listen to me and not give any attitude, so that just shows me that I have my peers respect me.
“I’m not really the loudest person, but I always lead by example. I hope my play inspires them and shows them that they can do the same thing.”
Jones has shown he can lead his team on the field with an ability to air it out in the passing game while showing a knack for improvising with his legs. He threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns and added 33 yards on the ground against Chaparral.
Saguaro has the belief it can continue the success that prior teams have had, especially the 2023 Sabercats team, which defeated Mesa’s Red Mountain High 40-20 in the 6A State Championship game.
The Sabercats are in a new season, with a new team, and a new culture. Kelly expressed confidence that his staff and players can restore the program to the elite status Saguaro followers are accustomed to watching.
who’s the student body of the Sabercats – Tucson High was once such a powerhouse – build some schools – move some kids and players away from public schools – and powerhouses become another hole in the wall of ‘remember when’ Can coaches change directions – not with out the material to build with.