CAVE
CREEK – There haven’t been too many games since Chad Degrenier
took over as head coach of Cactus Shadows four years ago
in which the Falcons have had two 100‑yard rushers
in the same game.
But
that’s what happened last week as the Falcons began what
they hope is another long winning streak with a 30‑6
victory over Sinagua.
One
week after seeing their 16‑game winning streak snapped,
the Falcons had two rushers–Johnny Barro (128 yards) and
Anthony Stephens (118)–go over the century mark to help
the Falcons to the win.
“Hopefully,
we’ll have more of those,” Degrenier said about the dual
100‑yard games and his team’s 254 total rushing
yards.
Cactus
Shadows (2‑1 overall) needed a little more than
a quarter to get its offense going, but when it did, the
Falcons’ running game was clicking.
Quarterback
Brian Colan, making his first start after the injury to
Dillon Classen, broke a scoreless tie with a 5‑yard
touchdown run with five minutes left in the second quarter.
The
Falcons missed the conversion to leave the score at 6‑0.
Degrenier
gambled with an on‑side kick after the touchdown,
and it worked. A few plays later, Barrow scampered 25
yards for another touchdown. Another failed conversion
left the score at 12‑0.
“We
finally got something going at the end of the second quarter,”
Degrenier said. “It was a tight game until then.”
But
Sinagua (0‑4) still stayed within striking distance
with a 30‑yard touchdown pass just 21 seconds before
halftime to leave the score at 12‑6 at the break.
The
Falcons took control near the end of the third quarter
when Colan found sophomore receiver Danny Trittler on
a 57‑yard touchdown pass.
A
two‑point conversion put the Falcons up 20‑6.
Jordan
Hartman booted a 40‑yard field goal a minute into
the fourth quarter to extend the lead further.
And
Colan, who completed seven passes for 120 yards, rushed
in to the end zone from 4 yards out for his second touchdown
run of the game to end the scoring.
Cactus
Shadows plays again Thursday at Paradise Valley.
