Game of the Week: Saguaro WR Deric English, QB Devon Dampier finally get to connect
They've waited a long time to connect on the football field at Scottsdale Saguaro after transferring from their respective schools more than a year ago.
Senior wide receiver Deric English and senior quarterback Devon Dampier finally get to see how special their connection can be. Friday night, Saguaro, defending Open Division state champions, host Bergen Catholic of Oradell, New Jersey.
It is Saguaro's opener, The Arizona Republic's high school football Game of the Week, and the second-ranked game in the nation this week, according to MaxPreps.
So much hype has come with the 6-foot-4, 205-pound English since he transferred from Glendale Mountain Ridge, where he was already making a Friday night splash as a freshman. And, for a couple of series last year, English lived up to it, catching four passes for 70 yards. But then, suddenly, his junior season came crashing down. He suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament on a non-contact play that required season-ending knee surgery.
That came midway through last season, at home against California's Sierra Canyon, the first game in which he became eligible after having to sit out the first five due to the Arizona Interscholastic Association's transfer rule.
That was also Dampier's first game eligible after leaving Phoenix Pinnacle, where he started varsity late in his freshman season. Dampier was backing up then-senior Ridge Docekal, and he never got a chance to hook up with English.
Now is their chance to make magic on the field.
"I feel like I've been in a cage and I'm ready to get out," English said. "Just do something for my team."
English was quick to rehabilitate from the surgery. As a precaution, coach Jason Mohns kept English out of spring football drills in May and didn't have him compete in the June 7-on-7 passing tournaments.
But after last week's scrimmage, in which English's knee held up well, Mohns is ready to cut the talented wide receiver loose.
"We've had full contact, to the ground, and I feel good," English said.
Once Dampier became the starter for the playoffs last year, Saguaro was a different beast on offense, with Dampier showing off all of his skills, turning into a dazzling, tough-to-tackle tailback at times in Mohns' offense.
He ran for 102 yards and three touchdowns in the 42-21 quarterfinal win over Glendale Cactus, 204 yards and three TDs in a 31-24 semifinal win over Chandler Hamilton, and 134 yards in a 20-15 championship win over Chandler. In the Chandler game, he completed 13 of 19 passes for 172 yards and two TDs, including the game-winner late to Jaedon Matthews that gave the 'Cats the lead.
English was a cheerleader throughout the Open playoffs, counting down the days until he could play again.
"Deric has been working hard all offseason just to make sure that he's getting back to himself," Dampier said. "Obviously, he's had some downers. But he knows how to move on to the next play. And that's what he's doing. I keep my trust in him, knowing he's going to make plays."
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This will be a whole new dynamic that Mohns can't wait to see. Dampier to English could be the recipe for another Open title. But Mohns realizes those are just two of the many playmakers that Saguaro has on its team.
Running back Jaeden Matthews and receivers Jaci Dickerson and Dajon Hinton are a few others. Hinton, a sophomore, figures to make a major impact on both offense and defense this season.
"He's been chomping at the bit," Mohns said about English, who had a breakout sophomore season at Mountain Ridge, where he had 31 catches for 451 yards and seven TDs in six games in a COVID-reduced season. "He's excited, and we're excited to have him."
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During the same game English got hurt last year, Saguaro tailback Zaccheus Cooper suffered a torn ACL. He also had surgery. Mohns said that the team is being cautious and probably will hold him out against Bergen Catholic, which finished ranked No. 3 in the nation by MaxPreps last season when it went 12-0.
"We don't need to rush him," Mohns said. "Being a running back, it's a little bit different. We feel really good with Jaedon Matthews and Rob Moore and Jayden Staple. We've got a good running backs group."
English, who said he doesn't feel there is a lot of ground he needs to make up with college recruiters, said he's not too amped up about his return. But this connection with Dampier has been something he's waited a long time for.
"I feel like it was meant to be," English said. "Me and him are just playmakers. Us two together is going to be something to watch."
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To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Saguaro WR Deric English ready for opener against Bergen Catholic
