CRONKITE SPORTS

Loaded Saguaro secondary may be key to another title

Jul 9, 2018, 10:23 PM

Saguaro has become a football powerhouse where it is tradition to win championships and develop fut...

Saguaro has become a football powerhouse where it is tradition to win championships and develop future college football players. (Photo by Joel Viss/Cronkite News)

(Photo by Joel Viss/Cronkite News)

SCOTTSDALE — In high school football, it is a special occurence to have a player receive an offer from a Power 5 school. Two players at the same position? Highly unlikely. All four defensive backs fielding Power 5 school offers?

It has happened at Saguaro High School.

It is a tradition there to develop great players and win championships. By securing their fifth straight title in December and setting the state record for consecutive championships, it is clear the Sabercats haven’t slowed down. Eleven players are ranked on 247Sports’ list of top Arizona football players in the classes of 2019 and 2020, headlined by cornerback Kelee Ringo.

Ringo is widely regarded as the top player in Arizona for the graduating class of 2020 and the No. 1 cornerback in the nation. He is an important piece of one of the top secondaries in the state, along with junior Jacobe Covington and seniors Brandon Shivers and Nate Polk.

“We’re out here continuing to get better, continuing to keep working, to show these people why we have the hype right now,” Ringo said. “Honestly, these other people are out here sleeping while we’re out here continuing to keep working.”

Ringo may literally mean sleeping, as the team starts its workouts during the summer at 7 a.m., before most high school students get out of bed during their break. Football never stops for this group.

Covington is the latest addition to this secondary, after transferring from Chandler last season. The defensive backs have formed a tight knit group that frequently eats together and tries to keep a bond.

The secondary tries to get the rest of the defense involved as well.

“We try to set the example, set the tone,” Ringo said. “On defense you have to be hyped, have the energy to get the rest of the team going.”

Winning games is the most important thing on game day, but sometimes that’s not enough competition for this group. Inner battles between each other to see who will have the most interceptions, tackles and touchdowns lead to smack talk.

“We get at each other,” Covington said.

It goes both ways. Consequences are implemented over miscues during the game and guilty players have to pay the price.

“Oh, we’re running the next day, a lot,” Covington said.

“(Secondary) coach (Bryant) Westbrook, he’s on us a lot with that,” Polk said. “It’s all technique, eyes, things like that. He keeps us disciplined.”

The secondary is a big part to Saguaro claiming its sixth straight state championship. One of the challenges ahead are two out-of-state powerhouses during the regular season in Helix High (La Mesa, California) and Liberty (Henderson, Nevada).

“Our main goal is to go undefeated and win these two out-of-state games,” Ringo said. “I’m going out there motivated. Just be hungry and want it more than they do. We need to come out there and kill their will and just get the W. We’re trying to set the standard.”

“We’re just trying to win the gold ball, the state championship, and keep the tradition going,” Polk said. “We have to go compete and give it all that we got.”

Expectations are high for Saguaro to bring home a state championship. That doesn’t stop this unit from having an even-keeled mindset heading into the season.

“I feel like getting big-headed, thinking that we are better than we actually are, stops us from what we are trying to accomplish,” Ringo said. “Everytime we step on the field we should feel like we are facing the best competition we ever faced.”

“We are playing the best competition that we have ever played,” Polk said. “It’s a mental issue.”

“We really just have to prove ourselves this year,” Covington said.

Cronkite Sports

Cronkite Sports

Sports gambling in Arizona moves closer to reality

In the near future, the Arizona sports fan’s experience could include the ability to place bets inside sports venues while the action unfolds.

3 years ago

Higley quarterback Kai Millner committed to Cal this spring, despite visiting the campus just once ...

Cronkite Sports

Arizona high school football recruits still committing amid coronavirus

Despite visiting campuses few times if at all in some cases, class of 2021 high school football prospects from Arizona are committing at record rates.

4 years ago

(Photo via Cronkite News courtesy Mesa Community College Facebook)...

Arizona Sports

COVID-19 prompts junior colleges to push for cancellation of sports

The 2020-21 school year for Maricopa County community colleges may not include sports, schools await a decision by the district chancellor.

4 years ago

New Coyotes President and CEO Xavier Gutierrez believes outreach in the Arizona Hispanic market is ...

Cronkite Sports

New Coyotes CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez looks to reach Latino community

New Coyotes CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez is the first Latino president and CEO in NHL history and hopes to reach new fans in the Valley.

4 years ago

Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, who joined the Phoenix Mercury in the offseason, is ready to get the WNBA...

Cronkite Sports

Full pay, 22-game season in Florida on tap for Phoenix Mercury

Another league has agreed on a return-to-play plan in the month of July. This time it’s the WNBA, whose members include the Phoenix Mercury.

4 years ago

Phoenix Rising FC assistant coaches Peter Ramage (left) and Blair Gavin are awaiting details about ...

Cronkite Sports

Phoenix Rising players await news on resumption of USL Championship

Phoenix Rising FC and the USL Championship are set to resume play July 11 while players wait on more details for the return.

4 years ago

Loaded Saguaro secondary may be key to another title