2014-15-aia-football-sollenberger-azpreps-report-highres

Saguaro Looking for Another Title in D-IIIBy Don Ketchum, aia365.comIt didn’t take long for football players from ScottsdaleSaguaro to start chomping at the bit to get goingagain after capturing the Division III state championshipin 2013.“After about four days of being off, they startedknocking down the door of the weight room,’’ saidcoach Jason Mohns.Mohns said about 80 players, current freshmenthrough juniors, participated in spring ball and quite afew played in seven-on-seven passing drills duringthe summer at various locations, including ArizonaState.Mohns and his staff are excited about the qualitydisplayed by those players, as well as depth.It’s clear why the Sabercats are listed No. 1 byBarry Sollenbeger’s Preseason Magazine with astrong chance to earn another title trophy in 2014.The primary challengers will be state runner-upQueen Creek, Gilbert Williams Field, GoodyearDesert Edge, Gilbert Higley, Tucson Sabino, Peoriaand Glendale Cactus.“The great thing is that many of our guys are battlingfor jobs, and that’s what you want,’’ Mohns said.Saguaro lost to neighborhood rival ScottsdaleChaparral (Division II) to begin last season, but thenran off 13 straight wins, including the 47-25 win over2012 champion Queen Creek in the title game at theUniversity of Arizona Stadium in Tucson. Saguaronow has seven state football titles.“We’ve got a good corps of players coming backand a lot of them also are good leaders,’’ Mohnssaid.One player who won’t be coming back, whoseshoes will be difficult to fill, is quarterback LukeRubenzer, who set season and career records fortouchdown passes and was prolific running the ball.Rubenzer will be a freshman at the University of California-Berkeleythis fall.The man who served as Rubenzer’s primarybackup last year was Kare (pronounced Car-ay)Lyles. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound junior-to-be already isreceiving a lot of attention from college recruiters.Mohns calls him an athletic pocket passer.“He’s got a strong arm and he’s athletic. He’s notgoing to run for 3,000 or so yards like Luke did, buthe is capable of hurting you with his feet.“He certainly has a lot of potential, but he hasn’tdone anything in a game yet.’’Somebody who has done things in games is senior-to-beChristian Kirk. He is out of the mold of formerSaguaro star D.J. Foster, now at Arizona State.“We want him to touch the football,’’ Mohns said.This is why:In the state championship game, Kirk rushed 18times for 156 yards and a pair of touchdowns, andcaught five passes for 101 yards and two morescores.Kirk has received offers from many of the majorfootball powers across the country.“He sets a good example. As good as he is on thefield, he might be even better off it,’’ Mohns said.Kirk lined up as a wideout about 60 percent of thetime and in the backfield about 40 percent, Mohnssaid, “but this year, it could be flipped or be 50-50.We don’t want opponents to settle in on him being inonly one place.’’Kirk should have plenty of help from his teammates,which will include defensive back-wide receiverByron Murphy.And Mohns added to his arsenal with the transferof senior all-purpose player Kam’ron Johnson fromTempe High.Perhaps Kirk said it best himself after the win overQueen Creek, in regard to the 2014 season:“We gotta come back and do this again,’’ he said.page 27