Falcons to face unbeaten Higley
Another shutout sets up big matchup
Cactus Shadows 28, Coronado 0
by Jason Stone

CAVE CREEK – Only two seconds have separated the Cactus Shadows football team from three straight shutouts.

If not for a last‑second score by Cortez two weeks ago, the Falcons would have been celebrating their third consecutive whitewash on Sept. 21 when they blanked Coronado 28‑0. But as it stood, Cactus Shadows had to settle for simple domination.

Quarterback Phillip Aholt passed for 247 yards and three touchdowns and led the Falcons to 21 second‑half points as they beat their first opponent with a winning record.

The win set up a big matchup this week at home against undefeated Higley, which could be a playoff preview for November.

“It’s two undefeated teams, so it will be a big test for us,” said Cactus Shadows coach Chad DeGrenier, referring to the Sept. 29 game in Cave Creek. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Cactus Shadows (5‑0) was able to stay unbeaten going into the game thanks to some big plays in the second half against Coronado. Over the first four weeks of the season, DeGrenier replaced his starters for most of the second halves when the Falcons built huge leads. But against Coronado, the Falcons only led 7‑0 at the break.

“We just kind of came out flat in the first half and the kids responded in the second half,” DeGrenier said. “It’s the first time we’ve scored points in the second half all year.”

Aholt completed 7‑of‑10 passes for 175 yards in the second half. The Falcons’ short passing game–which often leads to long gains–was working to perfection in the third quarter. With four minutes left in the quarter, Cactus Shadows went up 14‑0 when Aholt found senior Paul Skelton on a 13‑yard scoring strike.

In the fourth quarter, senior running back Eric Gorraiz picked a big chunk of his game‑high 166 yards with a 49‑yard touchdown burst. Kyle Watkins then capped the scoring a little more than a minute later when he took home an 84‑yard touchdown pass from Aholt.

Coronado mounted a couple of threats in the second half, including one drive inside the Falcons’ 20, but Cactus Shadows held on each.

“It’s awesome, especially because Coronado is good,” DeGrenier said about the defensive performance. “They get after it. The kids are doing awesome. We just want to keep it rolling.”

Cactus Shadows and Higley met last year with the Falcons winning 24‑14. Another win this week would firmly implant the Falcons, The Desert Advocate’s top‑ranked team in 4A‑II, as a state title contender and give the team more wins than all of last year (5‑6).

Higley has beaten Bradshaw Mountain, Notre Dame, Coconino and Buckeye, but the wins against Bradshaw Mountain and Notre Dame, teams in Cactus Shadows’ region, came by a  combined four points. Overall, however, Higley has eight wins in nine games since last year’s loss to Cactus Shadows.

“They’re a big, physical team,” DeGrenier said about Higley. “They’ve come back and beat teams. They’ve won in overtime. They’re a resilient team.”

Reach the reporter at jason@thedesertadvocate.com.