Eric Sorenson
You could say things are going quite well for Saguaro’s Luke Rubenzer.
One week after torching Sabino for 322 passing yards and five touchdowns he almost doubled those numbers in the Sabercats (12-1) 77-48 pasting of Desert Edge (12-1) Monday night in the Division III semi-finals at Arcadia High School.
His 25 completions in 29 attempts for 547 yards and nine scores would be two excellent games for most quarterbacks. Not the steady Cal commit who has put the ‘Cats on his back and made it his personal mission to get them back on the championship stage.
“I’m not a historian but I’d be hard-pressed to say that’s ever happened,” Saguaro head coach Jason Mohns said describing his signal-callers epic night. “That was an unreal performance and he did it against one of the best defenses in the state.”
After building a comfortable 42-20 halftime lead Rubenzer picked up right where he left off before the break finding a streaking Christian Kirk on a double move down the Saguaro sideline making the score 49-20 early in the third. The talented junior was exceptional as well catching seven passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns.
Not to be outdone, 6’3 senior J.T. Nettleton caught eight balls for 223 yards and five touchdowns. His final score a 75-yard catch and run where he ran under the pass around the Desert Edge 35 yard-line and outraced the secondary into the end zone.
The Scorpions were able to move the ball effectively all night offensively but found themselves playing catchup facing 20+ point deficits most of the game thanks to Rubenzer.
He quick to pass the praise around.
“It’s really just a team effort,” the 6’0 senior said. “The line is playing great. The receivers are playing great. [They’re] getting open and making things happen with the ball. You can’t really ask for anything else.”
Saguaro will play 4th-seeded Queen Creek at Arizona Stadium in Tucson Friday at 1:00.
