Star reporter Justin Spears breaks down key matchups, strategy and starters for the 4A high school football state championship game between the Salpointe Catholic Lancers and Scottsdale Saguaro Sabercats.
The Salpointe bench rushes out to help Mario Padilla (7) celebrate his kick-off return for a touchdown against Saguaro in their 4A championship game at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily StarWho: No. 1 Salpointe Catholic Lancers (13-0) vs. No. 2 Scottsdale Saguaro (12-1)
What: Class 4A high school football state championship game
Where: Arizona Stadium, Tucson
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Watch: NFHS Network (Online)
Follow: @HSTucson on Twitter / the Arizona Daily Star on Facebook
Three Saguaro players take down Salpointe's Bijan Robinson (5) during the 4A state championship game at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily StarOffense
Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr.
WR 5 Will Shaffer 6-1 215 Jr.
SLOT 2 Marqui Johnson 5-9 165 Sr.
LT 75 Bram Walden 6-5 268 So.
LG 74 Tye Kassen 6-3 269 Jr.
C 56 T.J. McRae 6-3 278 So.
RG 72 Jelani Newman 6-3 298 Sr.
RT 77 Jaylan Jeffers 6-6 255 Jr.
TE 88 Hayden Hatten 6-3 220 Sr.
WR 4 Matt Polk 6-4 192 Jr.
RB 22 Israel Benjamin 5-9 190 Jr.
QB 13 Tyler Beverett 6-3 201 Jr.
Defense
Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr.
DE 87 Quintin Somerville 6-3 225 So.
DT 46 Alani Ma’afu 6-2 248 So.
DT 52 Jayden Swink 6-2 252 Sr.
EDGE 9 Seth Robinson 6-3 220 Sr.
WLB 44 Clayton Randall 6-3 208 Sr.
MLB 45 Hogan Hatten 6-3 220 Sr.
OLB 8 Connor Soelee 6-1 199 Sr.
CB 28 Cameron Nash 5-10 165 Sr.
FS 26 Nate Polk 6-3 188 Sr.
SS 24 Jacobe Covington 6-2 185 Jr.
CB 21 Brandon Shivers 6-1 190 Sr.
Salpointe's Zander Alvarado (84) leads his teammates through the tear-away Lancer banner and onto the field to face Sahuaro in their state 4A semifinal at Mountain View High School, Friday, Nov. 16, 2018.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily StarOffense
Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr.
WR 8 Lathan Ransom 6-2 183 Jr.
SLOT 7 Mario Padilla 5-9 180 Sr.
LT 72 Colin Dreis 6-7 270 Sr.
LG 71 Bruno Fina 6-4 215 Jr.
C 53 Thomas Lares 6-0 250 Sr.
RG C.J. Franks 6-3 290 Sr.
RT 74 Jonah Miller 6-6 285 So.
TE 15 Xavier Farhang 6-4 210 Sr.
WR 18 Dae han Chang 5-9 165 Jr.
RB 5 Bijan Robinson 6-1 205 Jr.
QB 1 Devin Green 5-11 170 Sr.
Defense
Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr.
DE 84 Zander Alvarado 6-3 215 Sr.
DT 35 Sergio Sanchez 6-0 260 Jr.
DT 23 Adam Corrales 5-10 225 Sr.
DE 6 Trent Strong 6-0 220 Jr.
OLB 20 Ray Figueroa 5-11 190 Jr.
MLB 40 Shamon Davis 5-9 210 Jr.
OLB 31 Christian Ralls 5-11 190 Jr.
CB 3 Alex Withers 6-0 175 Sr.
FS 8 Lathan Ransom 6-2 183 Jr.
SS 7 Mario Padilla 5-9 180 Sr.
CB 10 Charlie Raetzman 5-10 165 Jr.
Salpointe's Bijan Robinson (5) fights his way through the Sabercats defense in the third quarter during their 4A state championship game at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily StarWhen discussing Salpointe’s offense, it’s impossible not to talk about one of the most talented running backs in Southern Arizona. Bijan Robinson is fourth in Arizona with 2,245 rushing yards on the season, surpassing a school record set by Chris Hopkins in 1991. Robinson broke Cam Denson’s single-season touchdown record (35) from 2012; both records came in the Lancers' 53-6 win over Sahuaro in the 4A semifinals. In last season’s state title game at Arizona Stadium, Robinson was still able to rush for 164 yards on 24 carries, but no touchdowns. If the Lancers want to win, Robinson will have to find the end zone at least once.
The Sabercats will be without linebacker Damian Sellers and cornerback Kelee Ringo, both 2020 college prospects that have college offers from USC, Oregon, Alabama, Washington and LSU. The next man up to stop the run: senior edge rusher Seth Robinson, who is verbally committed to play for UNLV next season. If Salpointe’s offensive line doesn’t contain him, the Robinsons (no relation) will be meeting each other frequently Friday night.
Safety Lathan Ransom watches the offense's play develop during Salpointe Catholic High School football practice.
Mike Christy / Arizona Daily StarSalpointe’s star athlete and four-star safety Lathan Ransom recently picked up an offer to play college ball at Notre Dame. So far this season, Ransom has proven to be a Division I athlete as a safety, but also leads the Lancers in receiving (580) and kick return yards (449).
Expect to see Ransom create most of his tackles against Saguaro tight end Hayden Hatten, a 6-foot-3-inch, 220-pound tight end who’s verbally committed to Brown for the 2019 season. Hatten averages 19.1 yards per catch this season and hauled in eight touchdowns. If Salpointe stacks the box to contain Israel Benjamin, there could be a few one-on-one matchups between Ransom and Hatten. The 50-50 balls could decide the outcome of the game.
Salpointe's head coach Dennis Bene looks for answers in trying to solve the Saguaro defense in the second quarter of their 4A state championship game at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily StarSellers and Ringo have both been suspended by the Arizona Interscholastic Association for what it says is a “conduct violation.” Even without two of their stars, however, the Sabercats look every bit the part of a state champion. Coach Jason Mohns has established one of the greatest dynasties in Arizona high school football history, and there’s no reason to believe Saguaro will come out flat on Friday. However, Salpointe Catholic has been looking forward to this game ever since the Lancers lost to Saguaro a year ago. The Lancers are certainly more desperate.
Salpointe players cheer their fans after they defeated Sahuaro 53-6 in their state 4A semifinal at Mountain View High School, Friday, Nov. 16, 2018.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily StarThese teams have been inseparable during the playoffs over the last few years. The difference in this year's matchup: Salpointe’s offensive line matches up well with Saguaro’s defensive front. But vice versa? Saguaro’s average starting offensive lineman is 6-4 and 273 pounds, while Salpointe's biggest defensive lineman is senior Zander Alvarado at 6-3, 215. Friday’s game will be won in the trenches and by whichever team commits fewer penalties. Salpointe will trail late in the game, but clock management and Robinson’s ability to create big plays will give the Lancers their second state title in five years. It’s a bold pick, but wacky things tend to happen at Arizona Stadium after 7 p.m.
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