It’s fourth down, five seconds left on the clock. Sun Devil Stadium is roaring with fans.
Saguaro’s Devon Dampier scrambles to make a championship winning play, but it meets the
endzone with no connection.

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Storming the field, Basha has just won their first state championship marking a new triumph, but for

Saguaro this may mark the end of an era.

Saguaro football for the last decade has dominated the Arizona high school scene. Building a
nationally ranked team isn’t an easy task, but somehow Jason Mohns former Saguaro head coach
seemed to do it with ease. Now that he has moved on to Arizona State University’s coaching
staff under new head coach Kenny Dillingham, he has left the role to be filled by Zak Hill.

Hill, who was named head coach in January, faces the intimidating task of following Mohns as
he takes on this program. Mohns leaves behind a remarkable legacy to follow. With seven state
championships as head coach, six of them being consecutive, he played an integral role in
building the Sabercats program into what it is today.

However, it seems Hill, the former ASU offensive coordinator, is up for the job. Hill has spent
time under multiple Division I colleges like Boise State and University of Hawaii, as well as
leading ALA North Gilbert to win the 4A State Championship.

“They got spoiled by Mohns being there for so long and by knowing everybody and being so
great in that community, but I think that Zak Hill can do the same thing. He doesn’t have that
same personality as Jason but he’s still a great guy and still a really great offensive mind and he’s
going to get those guys going,” told Richard Obert of The Arizona Republic, who has closely
followed Arizona high school football throughout the years. Dajon Hinton, the Sophomore wide
receiver, also seems to have a good feeling about Hill.

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“The coach has made it a lot easier. When he first came in not only did he say he was all about
us but he showed it. Like the first week, he took time to develop relationships. Really, he just
wants us to come together as a family since he’s new to the whole thing and he wants us to trust
him and hopefully he can gain our trust, it’s just a whole process” tells Hinton.

As if the position of head coach isn’t already a stressful enough change, Saguaro has also lost
their quarterback Devon Dampier as he graduates in May. Dampier was a 5-star recruit and Ed
Doherty award winner who has committed to playing for University of New Mexico in the fall.
Looking to replace him is Hype Grand, the Sophomore California transfer.

“I think this kid is going to be good, he’s got a great name. I was watching some video of him,
some highlights, and he reminds me a lot of Dampier just smaller, he’s not as big as Dampier,
not as physically powerful as Dampier was, but he’s very gifted as far as he can run, he's very
elusive, he looks like he’s got a really strong arm and if he can just get it to the playmakers that’s
all they need to still be that great Saguaro team,” Obert predicts. Hinton even refers to him as
Saguaro’s secret weapon since no one in Arizona has seen had the chance to see him play yet.

The combination of a new head coach and new quarterback could go many ways but there seems
to be sense of reassurance about the Saguaro program as it undergoes its changes.

“Most definitely a new era, but you know we’re going to keep the same traditions, because the
program is never bigger than one person,” explains Hinton. He also specified his personal
enthusiasm to work during this off season with a new quarterback to strengthen his wide receiver
skills.

Like Hinton said, this team's story of success does not fall on one person, but a change in not
only the play caller but also the play maker will be an exciting dynamic to watch meet the field

this season. Even with these changes, Arizona high school football fans shouldn’t be too anxious
to see this dynasty fall just yet.

“I want that redemption. It really hurt when we lost last year, it really hurt. I remember watching
Dampier on the final pass and Chris Nimcheski just missing it and that sucked it was the worst
feeling. I hated it, everyone wants to get back and win it” confesses Garret Martin, Sophomore
defensive lineman. Saguaro is hungry for a championship win and it seems like last year’s loss
just might be the push they needed.

Saguaro fan or not, you won’t want to miss watching this new era play out in September.