Bijan Robinson runs rampant in Salpointe football

Arizona Daily Star
Salpointe Catholic opened its 2017 season with an emphatic statement — a 47-6 victory over St. Mary’s (Phoenix).
Salpointe sophomore running back Bijan Robinson scorched the Knights with 207 rushing yards on 14 carries and accounted for five touchdowns. Four came on the ground and the other came on a punt return to end the first half.

Robinson pulled double duty Friday night, with fellow back Mario Padilla out for the game.
 
Robinson had plenty of green space to work with in thanks to teammate Matteo Mele, a tight end turned offensive lineman who is committed to the University of Washington.

“I thought our offense did a nice job early establish the line of scrimmage,” Salpointe head coach Dennis Bene said. “Obviously Bijan did some nice things, and then I thought our quarterback Rodrigo Nieto had a nice night. All around it was a really good effort.”

Mele’s presence allowed for Robinson to break free all night, whether on pitches to the outside or big holes through the middle.
But even Mele was surprised at times to find Robinson break open a seemingly dead play and turn it into a big gain. Robinson’s longest run of the night came on a 64-yard rush midway through the second half.
 
“I don’t even have any words for that,” Mele said. “He proved everyone right.”

Only 15 years old, Robinson already has offers from Pac-12 schools including Arizona, Utah, and Washington. While Robinson has always had a motor, Bene is most impressed with the running back’s mental development.
“He’s becoming a better football player,” Bene said.

Salpointe’s first score of the night through over the air, as Nieto connected with Latham Ransom for a 24-yard pass in the end zone. After a fumble recovery, Salpointe drove the ball into Knights territory before Robinson ran in for a 5-yard touchdown.
 
Salpointe expanded the lead to 20-0 minutes later on another Robinson rushing touchdown. Robinson scored twice more in the second quarter, once on the ground and later on a punt return to end the first half.

The Lancers added to their 34-0 halftime lead when Robinson scored on the ground two minutes into the third quarter.
Robinson was finally taken out, but Salpointe wasn’t done scoring.

Arturo Alcaraz ran in an 11-yard touchdown to make it 47-0 midway through the third quarter. St. Mary’s broke the shutout in the final moments of the game, when quarterback Alex Pacheco hit receiver Aidan Sanford for a 22-yard touchdown pass.

Read more.
Back

Salpointe Catholic High School

1545 E. Copper St.,
Tucson, AZ 85719
(520) 327-6581
Attendance: (520) 327-1990
© 2021 Salpointe Catholic High School. All rights reserved.