Saguaro quarterback Tim Ruben makes a break down the field in Friday’s 44-19 win over Glendale Cactus. Ruben passed for 235 yards and four touchdowns to keep the Sabercats unbeaten heading into the 4A Division I playoffs, which begin next week.

Thomas Boggan, Tribune

WRAP \'EM UP: A Cactus defender tries to bring down Saguaro quarterback Tim Ruben Friday in Scottsdale.

Thomas Boggan, Tribune

This is almost too easy. It was a hyped-up matchup of No. 1 vs. No. 2, but top-ranked Scottsdale Saguaro (10-0) gave second-ranked Glendale Cactus (9-1) the same treatment it has everyone else, moving the ball effortlessly on offense and playing lockdown defense en route to a 44-19 win in Friday night’s 4A-I regular-season finale at Saguaro.

SLIDESHOW: View photos from the game

Tim Ruben was 15-for-18 for 235 yards and four touchdowns passing and Justin Shelton and Beau Burton combined for 200 yards rushing in the contest.

Saguaro has two state titles in its history — including last year — but this is the school’s first undefeated regular season. The Sabercats will enter the state tournament as the No. 1 overall seed.

“We don’t feel like anybody can stop us right now,” wide receiver Paul Porras said.

Saguaro scored the game’s first 10 points, but a 22-yard pass from Jake Moreno to Bruce Yeo cut the lead to 10-7 with 1:31 left in the first half.

The Sabercats responded quickly, with Ruben finding Max Smith from 5 yards out less than a minute later to take a 17-7 lead into intermission. A 3-yard touchdown pass from Ruben to Shelton made the score 24-7, and then Shelton ran the ball in from a yard out to put the game away.

“We’re just doing what we’ve been doing all year,” Ruben said.

Derek Bisgard led the way defensively with eight tackles and 3 1/2 sacks. The Saguaro defense held Cactus running back Mike Brown to 28 yards rushing on the night.

Saguaro coach John Sanders said he wouldn’t hold anything back in this game, even with mounting injuries and the possibility of seeing Cactus again in the playoffs. He made good on that promise on Saguaro’s first offensive possession, calling a reverse wide receiver option pass in which Porras found a wide open Blake Nordlund in the end zone from 35 yards out for a 7-0 lead.

The team had been practicing the play for the past three weeks.

“It was dark back there and it was just (Nordlund),” Porras said. “I didn’t see any white shirts. ... I was scared. I was like, 'Please catch it, please catch it.’”

An end-around to Brett Casale that gained 38 yards from that same formation set it up three plays earlier.

“That’s why I get the big bucks,” a smiling Sanders said.

Saguaro linebacker Jake Dunn watched from a wheelchair on the sidelines. Dunn was seriously injured in a longboarding accident on Sept. 30.

He received the biggest cheer of the night when introduced before the game.

“It’s real nice having him come out and be a part of us again,” Ruben said.