Sergio Sazo is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Cactus High School for AZPreps365.com.

 

Splash plays on both offense and defense highlighted a successful night for Cactus as the Cobras improved to 3-0 on the season with a 41-21 win over Estrella Foothills (1-3) Friday night at Cactus.

Cactus quarterback Connor Cordts wasted no time getting the Cobras' offense off to a fast start, hitting speedy receiver Antonio Pratt for a 73-yard touchdown on the second play of the game. Pratt caught the pass heading to his left after running a nice route and managed to break away from the defense for the early score.

Cordts finished the game with four total touchdowns, tallying three through the air and one rushing. 

“We always talk about scoring on first drives, especially when we get the ball first,” Cordts said. “We already had six points before they even touched the ball.” 

Another Cordts touchdown, this time a 7-yard completion to Riley Davies, capped off what was otherwise a sloppy first quarter for both teams offensively. Prior to the touchdown drive, there were three plays that featured three consecutive fumbles by the two teams. 

Strong defensive play by Cactus carried into the second quarter as it opened up the period with a blocked punt deep in Estrella Foothills territory. The Cobras quickly capitalized with a 7-yard rushing touchdown by senior running back Anthony Flores, who was later shaken up on a play midway through the third quarter. He left the game, but according to Cactus Coach Joseph Ortiz he suffered a rolled ankle and should will be ready for next week’s game at Salpointe Catholic (2-0).

“Once the defense makes a big stop or a big turnover, it gives us so much energy to go on the field and kind of reward them and go down the field and score because of the stop they just made,” Cordts said.

Cactus scored 20 of their 41 points off of turnovers. 

Estrella Foothills running back Kenney Abraham led the Wolves' offense, rushing for 87 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Abraham’s touchdown run was perhaps the offensive highlight of the game for the Wolves. Initially, good penetration by the Cactus front seven made it appear that the play would end in a tackle for loss, but Abraham was able to reverse field and outrun Cactus defenders for an 80-yard score. 

Abraham’s 80-yard dash to the end zone was an outlier in a game that was otherwise dominated by the Cobras defense. Cactus forced four total takeaways, including three in the first half. Defensive backs Jesse Gandara and Nicc Quinones both had interceptions. Quinones also replaced Flores at running back, adding in a rushing touchdown of his own. 

“We had some injuries and had to move some things around, and the guys who came in stepped up really well,” Ortiz said. 

Estrella Foothills added two late fourth quarter scores as quarterback Nathaniel Villanueva hit big-play magnet Jacob Marsh both times to cut the Cactus lead to 20. Marsh also had a big night on special teams with two long kickoff returns of 30 yards and 46 yards.