More photos. (Renee Bourcier/CHSAANow.com)
HIGHLANDS RANCH — Valor Christian head coach Rod Sherman had a very simple message to his team after its 49-21 loss to Saguaro (Ariz.) Saturday afternoon.
“Guys,” he said. “We’re going to be alright.”
And he believed it.
Looking at a sea of disappointed football players, he explained that the loss, while never ideal, will only serve as a tool the Eagles (0-1 overall) can use to get better.
And they believed it.
“It’s a journey,” Sherman said. “We say it from day one, we have to stay the course. We have a plan and a culture for our program and we have to let the culture win the day.”
But Saturday was a tough day to win. The Sabercats (2-0) looked ready for the high-profile nature that came with the game. In front of a nationally televised ESPN audience, quarterback Max Massingale and running back Stone Matthews ruled the day.
Watson began the first half scoring rush for Saguaro by punching in a seven-yard touchdown, giving his team a quick 7-0 edge.
The Eagles took the field with all eyes on Michigan commit, Dylan McCaffrey. The only issue is that with Blake Stenstrom and Luke McCaffrey, Valor Christian currently rosters three outstanding athletes at the position and they all had something to offer on the initial drive.
More photos. (Renee Bourcier/CHSAANow.com)
The highlight was a reverse pass from Stenstrom to McCaffrey for an Eagle touchdown, tying the game.
“It’s just a reverse pass that we have,” Stenstrom said. “Sorry, I can’t give you the name of it, but it’s just something where we motion a guy, he tosses it to me and I throw it to Dylan.”
But with limited tricks up their sleeve, the Eagles stalled offensively while the Sabercats did anything but.
Massingale ran for two touchdowns and tossed two more before halftime, putting Saguaro up 35-14 at the half. He accounted for over 100 yards through the air and another 100 on the ground. It seemed as if he just couldn’t be pulled down by the Eagles.
“It was an embarrassment how we tackled today,” Sherman said. “We have to get better at that. It was a poor performance for our program.”
The defense came out with more energy in the second and in its first two series, did something they couldn’t do once in the first half. They made Saguaro punt.
McCaffrey was able to capitalize and find Noah Kuzma for a 10-yard touchdown pass. But McCaffrey, who finished the day 18-25 with 205 yards and a touchdown, still wasn’t happy with what the offense was doing on the field.
“I thought we played a pretty good first half (offensively),” he said. “I think in the second half the tables turned a little bit. The offense could’ve stepped it up some.”
And they nearly had a chance put some pressure on the Sabercats. On 2nd and 13 and momentum with Valor’s defense, a Massingale pass went out of bounds. But the Eagles were flagged for roughing the passer.
Saguaro proceeded to march 78 yards down the field for another touchdown, effectively ending Valor’s comeback hopes.
“They let us off the hook on the roughing the passer call,” Saguaro coach Jason Mohns said. “That was really the swinging point of the momentum.”
Opening the season with a loss is not exactly a banner way to begin a state title defense, but Sherman has all the confidence in his players to rebound.
And they’ll need to as they travel to Mullen Friday night. The Mustangs are coming off a last-minute loss to Pomona.
“Saguaro made us a lot better today,” Sherman said. “There were teams early on last year that made us play better in November and December and we want to play our best football at the end of the year.”
And if that’s what ends up happening, Sherman will be right when he tells his team that they’re going to be alright.