Two-way Saguaro lineman Cyrus Hobbi was spent. Nagging physical aliments and fatigue had him collapsing often in the final minutes of Saturday's 4A-I football championship game with Canyon del Oro.

But when time had expired do-everything quarterback Teddy Ruben had enough energy to play another 48 minutes. The diminutive Saguaro signal caller jumped and spun with joy knowing he and his teammates had snared a hard-fought, come-from-behind 41-34 victory over defending champ CDO at Sun Devil Stadium.

"This was a great game," Saguaro coach John Sanders said. "I feel like we've been a second-half team for eight years.... They were the defending champs for a reason. We'd had a (winning) streak end at 37 and w'e're happy to return the favor this time for them at 27."

The victory capped a late-season run for Saguaro (12-2), which won its ninth game in a row and also ended CDO's two-year winning streak at 27. The title was the fourth in five years for Saguaro, in this the final year of a 4A-I division.

"Yes, yes," Ruben exclaimed when he had settled down long enough to speak with reporters. "This is a dream come true.... It's about time."

Saguaro's time came because of a strong second half. As they did in a regular season meeting with Canyon del Oro back in October, the Sabercats found themselves behind at halftime. But this time they got busy quickly in the third period to try and erase a 27-14 deficit. That deficit came courtesty of two Saguaro turnovers late in the second period that the Dorados turned into touchdowns. One was off an interception thrown by Ruben.

Saguaro evened the score at 27 thanks to stopping CDO on a fourth-and-1 at the CDO 29 with 9:27 left in the third period. Ruben, who rushed for 162 yards and four touchdowns, threw his only TD pass of the game to Ryan Merrill two minutes later to make it 27-20.

After a penalty and two CDO runs for losses, CDO punter Tilghman Harvey shanked a punt and Saguaro ended up with the ball at the CDO 25. Two plays later, DJ Foster scored on a 23-yard run to tie the game at 27 with 18 seconds left in the third quarter.

Saguaro trailed one more time when CDO standout Ka"Deem Carey summoned a lead-taking march with a 34-yard kickoff return and alternated runs with quarterback Jason McBrayer to take a 34-27 lead with 9:30 left. Carey finished off the drive with his second TD run from 9 yards out. Carey finished the game with 173 yards on 25 carries.

The rest of the way it was Saguaro's offense that took over, dominating as it did on its first two possessions when it drove 80 yards for scores in double-digit plays.

Ruben's 1-yard run capped a 7-play, 80-yard march to tie the game a final time at 34. Saguaro's defense forced the only CDO turnover of the game as the Dorados were marching for their chance to retake the lead. Carey had the ball knocked loose on a run inside the Saguaro 20 and the Sabercats recovered at the 15.

Ten plays and 85 yards later, Ruben tallied the game-winner with 2:25 to play on a 5-yard run.

"The kid is incredible, such a great athlete," Sanders said. "I've never been around a better competitor."

In the end, Saguaro got one extra opportunity that gave it the chance for victory. A victory that was the first loss CDO seniors had not experienced at any level in their careers.

"We made too many mistakes in the second half," CDO coach Dustin Peace said. "We didn't play the game we wanted to play. We ahve 33 senior that have done so much for this program. This is the toughest thing that's happened to these guys. We're going to help them get through it."