Cienega cruised into a 56-14 win over Rincon/University last week without a lot of their starters, including Terrell Hayward.
Hayward, the Bobcats’ star receiver and defensive back, was out of town dealing with a family matter.
Coach Pat Nugent found a stellar replacement in Diego Rubi.
Rubi caught three passes for 65 yards, rushed for nine yards, returned three punts for 77 yards and returned a kick for two yards.
The Bobcats’ game plan for Friday night’s game at Mountain View will include Rubi, even though Hayward is back and expects to play.
The 5-foot-11-inch, 160-pound Rubi is “a superstar kid that, unfortunately, sits behind Terrell Hayward, who’s just been a star for our program for the last four years,” Nugent said. “But Diego had a great night the other night. … He showed his ability when he’s able to touch the ball, and he’s just another superstar on the team.”
Rubi said he was “pretty patient” as he waited for an opportunity.
He was first called up to Cienega’s varsity team as a sophomore, but played in just three games — all on defense. Rubi was primarily a defensive player again as a junior, finishing with 37 tackles and six pass breakups.
“He kept getting better and better throughout the year and played a little bit in the playoffs,” Nugent said. “So, he’s a dual-threat for us. He’s going to break out for us here.”
Rubi is starting at cornerback now, but said he wants to contribute more on offense. He hopes to score 12 touchdowns in his last season with the Bobcats.
And, given the way he placed against Rincon, he may be just given the chance. Cienega is 3-1 heading into a four-game stretch that could test its will: After playing winless Mountain View on Friday, the team will host Sunnyside and travel to Sierra Vista Buena and before hosting Marana and the Tigers’ high-powered offense on Oct. 12. Those three opponents are a combined 10-3 so far this season.
“Whenever I get a chance to make a play, I’m going to try my best to do so,” Rubi said. “I didn’t think I’d be returning punts this year, but they put me down there and I got the job done.”
Rubi likely won’t return punts now that Hayward is back. But he said he’d like to join his teammate for kickoff returns. It’s an idea Nugent is open to.
“We’ve got two great kids with Terrell Hayward and Diego Rubi right now,” Nugent said. “We have to find a way to get both of those guys the ball. They’re just two tremendous athletes that are just two huge weapons in our offense.”
