Football Game Preview: Shadow Ridge Stallions vs. Saguaro Sabercats + How To Watch

The Shadow Ridge Stallions are taking a road trip to take on the Saguaro Sabercats at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Shadow Ridge will aim to continue their three-game streak of scoring more points each game than the last.

Shadow Ridge lost a heartbreaker the last time they played Mountain Ridge, but it's fair to say they got their revenge given the result of Friday's contest. The Stallions claimed a resounding 59-26 victory over the Mountain Lions. The Stallions' offense stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most points they've scored all season.

Michael Cruz

Receiving Yards (Career)

10/31/25 vs Mountain Ridge	84
09/12/25 vs Westwood	82
10/16/25 vs Williams Field	78
08/30/24 @ Highland	48
10/25/24 vs Mountain Ridge	42

Shadow Ridge's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Michael Cruz led the charge by rushing for 217 yards and three TDs while picking up 10.9 yards per carry, and also picking up 84 receiving yards and one touchdown. Those 84 receiving yards gave Cruz a new career-high. Nolan Rau was another key player, rushing for 128 yards and a pair of scores on only seven carries.

They were just one part of a punishing run game: Shadow Ridge was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 408 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've managed all season.

Shadow Ridge didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off three passes before the game was over. In fact, those interceptions all came courtesy of defensive juggernaut Daniel Lesan.

Meanwhile, Saguaro was not able to break out of their rough patch on Thursday as the team picked up their fifth straight defeat. They had to suffer through a 41-8 loss at the hands of Brophy College Prep. The Sabercats were in a tough position after the first half, with the score already sitting at 34-0.

Saguaro's loss dropped their record down to 2-7. As for Shadow Ridge, their win ended a three-game drought at home and bumped them up to 4-5.

Shadow Ridge was dealt a bruising 41-9 defeat at the hands of Saguaro when the teams last played back in September of 2023. Thankfully for the Stallions, Jaedon Matthews (who rushed for 83 yards and three TDs on only five carries, and also caught one touchdown) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? There's only one way to find out.