Saguaro football fields only varsity team amid player shortages
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 31, 2026, 6:23 PM
Last updated Jul 31, 2026
Scottsdale Saguaro football coach Butch Goncharoff announced the team will only field a varsity squad for the 2026 season, lacking sufficient players for freshman and junior varsity teams. The program has seen a significant drop in participation since winning the 2023 state title, with around 35 players currently in the program. Goncharoff aims to better integrate inexperienced players, especially freshmen, by keeping them on the varsity squad. The first day of practice begins August 3, and he hopes to attract more players before the season starts.
- •Saguaro has only 35 players for the upcoming season.
- •Freshmen will practice with varsity to gain experience.
- •Previous coach Darius Kelly struggled, leading to player transfers.
- •Season begins with practice starting on August 3.
- 6:23 PMYahoo Sports — A dramatic fall as 13-time champs in 2000s can't field freshman, JV teams
"With only about 35 total players in the program, new Saguaro football coach Butch Goncharoff has decided to field only a varsity team this season.
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