Falcons put state on alert
Cactus Shadows whips unbeaten Higley
by Jason Stone

CAVE CREEK – After Cactus Shadows’ big football game against Higley last week, Falcons coach Chad DeGrenier made numerous references to his team playing “Cactus Shadows football.”

“In the first half, we didn’t play Cactus Shadows football,” DeGrenier said. “In the second half, we got back to playing Cactus Shadows football.”

It turns out “Cactus Shadows football” in 2006 refers to the Falcons’ tendency to stun opponents with a blitz of points. As Higley found out the hard way last Friday night, the Falcons dug themselves a 10‑0 hole against Higley but rallied for 34 straight points, including touchdowns on four consecutive possessions in the second half for a 34‑10 victory.

Phillip Aholt threw three second‑half touchdowns and 251 yards overall for the Falcons, who improved to 6‑0 overall and grabbed the No. 1 spot in the 4A‑Division II power point poll.

Aholt completed passes to six different receivers. The Kyles–Foley, Royer and Watkins–combined for 15 catches, including seven for 144 yards for Watkins.

The numbers could have been even greater had Watkins been able to hang on to two or three other bombs that could have gone for scores. The Falcons’ offense as a whole struggled in the first half.

“I think we were a little bit shell‑shocked when we were down 10‑0,” DeGrenier said about the Falcons’ first deficit of the year.

Higley built the lead on a safety when a bad punt snap went out of the end zone and a touchdown when Hector Hernandez scored on a one‑yard run on the first play of the second quarter. Aholt fired an 18‑yard scoring pass to Foley before halftime to make the score 10‑6 at the break.

In the second half, the Higley players barely had time to figure out what hit them. Aholt led the Falcons on a 10‑play, 74‑yard drive to start the half and give the Falcons a 13‑10 lead. After a Higley fumble on the next series, Aholt found Matt Williams for a 14‑yard scoring strike.

The Falcons’ defense, which was led by Sean January’s team‑high 16 tackles and a sack each from Nick Benhart and Chris Manship, forced a punt on the next drive. It only took five plays for the Falcons to score again–this time Watkins from Aholt from the 1‑yard‑line.

Running back Eric Gorraiz record his fourth 100‑yard game of the year as the senior rushed for 124 yards on 20 carries.

Reach the reporter at jason@thedesertadvocate.com.