Aholt passed for a season‑high 350 yards and matched his career‑high with six touchdown throws. Watkins virtually rewrote the school’s receiving record book with nine catches for 293 yards. The stats would have been even gaudier had another reception for more than 50 yards not been wiped out by an unrelated penalty.

“Everybody on the offense stepped it up,” said Watkins, whose season totals are now 45 catches for 1,051 yards and 17 touchdowns. “Phil threw some good passes.”

Major college recruiters should be attending upcoming games with the numbers the passing duo is putting up. Aholt has now passed for 1,790 yards and 27 touchdowns, while being intercepted only three times.

“We’re good whether people notice or not,” DeGrenier said. “We still feel like we don’t get any (statewide) respect, but that’s fine with us.”

Aholt hit Watkins on touchdowns of 63, 53, 37, 23 and 43. Aholt’s other touchdown went to Matt Williams in the third quarter.

The game was actually close in the first half. Despite the Falcons’ offensive fireworks, Washington scored a touchdown with 0.1 seconds left in the first half to cut Cactus Shadows’ lead to 19‑16 at halftime.

The second half began as the first did with Cactus Shadows scoring on its first three possessions in a six‑minute span to put the game away. Two of those possessions resulted in scores in only one play as the Falcons grabbed a commanding 40‑16 lead. 

Cactus Shadows next travels to Bradshaw Mountain (3‑4 overall, 1‑1 Wells Fargo 2 Region) for another key game this Friday.

“It’s not easy to win up there,” DeGrenier said. “And they are the best 3‑4 team in the state. It should be tough.”

Reach the reporter at jason@thedesertadvocate.com.