What was Higley's answer to a 21-0 run in the first half by 5A title opponent Cactus on Friday night?

It was a 35-0 trump card played by the Knights over the final two-plus quarters that produced a 41-21 victory at Sun Devil Stadium. The championship was Higley's first in the sport in school history covering two decades and its second title-game appearance (runner-up in 2006) since Higley opened in 2001. And an astonishing rebound season as well from the school's veteran head coach Eddy Zubey, staff and players. The Knights were 2-8 last season.

"You know, it's great. This is these kids coming into this season only had won five games in their entire high school career coming into this night, and to be able to go 12-2, to be able to believe in each other and I believe in that system and what we got going on to be able to turn it around like the way they did," Zubey said. ​​​​​​So they set the standard high and now it's our opportunity to keep it up there."

Higley finished 2022 12-2 with a six-game winning streak that included a pair of field-goal-or-less triumphs in the quarters and semis. Cactus closed its season 10-4 with its eight-game winning streak snapped in the finale. Cactus has won two championships and posted seven runner-ups in its history.

Higley sophomore quarterback Jamar Malone II led Higley with a hand in four touchdowns -- two rushing and two passing. Malone passed for 252 yards and added 79 yards rushing on 16 carries. Junior running back Daxen Hall added two TD runs and totaled 116 yards on 18 attempts. Junior Kaden Millner and senior Carter Hancock were on the receiving end of Malone's TD tosses. Hancock caught eight passes for 175 yards to pace the receivers.

Cactus led 21-20 at halftime scoring 21 points after spotting Higley a 6-0 lead. The Cobras received big plays from Damian Jiles (51-yard TD run), a Nikko Boncore 65-yard TD interception return and a 17-yard TD run by Will Galvan for its first-half outburst. The Cobras last points were scored with 9:08 left in the second quarter. Cactus quarterback Rudy Gonzales threw for 211 yards, completing 13 of 22 attempts.

The 21-6 deficit needed to be challenged and Higley did so with two TDs in the final three minutes of the half. Hall's first TD and Millner's TD reception pulled the Knights within one at intermission.

Hall's second TD run capped a 10-play, 80-yard drive putting Higley ahead for good (27-21) with 7:44 left in the third period. Higley used a short field to drive 34 yards in three plays on its next possession for a 34-21 lead with Hancock beating the secondary for a 33-yard TD reception.

Higley's defense stymied two Cactus possession's in Higley territory in the fourth period. An interception by the Knights Kyler Peck at the Higley 6 and sack four minutes later by team sack-leader Caleb Botticello (two sacks in the game) ended Cactus' comeback bid.