From the outside, a tidal wave of change struck the Cactus program soon after the calendar flipped to 2022.
Only six players with starting experience return to a team with a new coach that moved up to 5A after running roughshod over the 4A conference and qualifying for the Open Division.
However, new coach Brian Belles has been a Cobras assistant for most of this century, running the Cactus defense for most of the time. Only two assistants joined former coach Joseph Ortiz when he moved to Gilbert Perry, and rising star Mason Crossland is now the full time offensive coordinator after calling about half the plays last year.
