Cactus erased any memories of last seasons playoff loss as a #4 seed quickly, breaking out to a 35-7 halftime lead in its 2024 playoff opener.

The Cobras were able to strike early, capitalizing on missteps by Marana Mountain View, forcing a running clock for the second half of the game. 

Cactus (8-3) is the #4 seed again and is advancing to the 5A quarterfinals following a 42-13 win over the #13 Mountain Lions on Nov. 15.

“We knew they were a heavy run team… I just think we prepared our kids, they knew it was going to be a tough, physical game up-front, and the more physical team was gonna win tonight. I think our defense understood that," Cactus coach Brian Belles said. 

Historically, the two teams had met four prior times in the playoffs, with Cactus owning a 4-0 record leading up to the match. 

Both coaches have been through the wars for decades. Marana Mountain View coach Matt Johnson led Ironwood Ridge to the state title in Division II (equivalent to today's 5A) in 2012.

“Coach Johnson, you know he’s been there and done that,” Coach Brian Belles said. “I coached against him long ago when he was at Rincon, so I knew they were going to be tough and physical, and we preached that to our kids all week.”

Mountain View won the toss and elected to receive, but it would be Cactus who scored first thanks to a 12-yard touchdown run by junior Tevin Marrufo. Cactus struggled to get the kick off for the extra point, making it 6-0 Cobras with 7:09 left in the first. 

The Mountain Lions countered with a touchdown of their own, as Nicholas Horrocks ran the ball in for a four-yard touchdown. The extra point by Lucas Nguyen was good, giving Mountain View the 7-6 lead with just 45.5 seconds remaining in the first quarter. 

However, it only took Cactus four plays to regain the lead with the touchdown coming on a touchdown run by senior Julian Stubblefield to open up the second quarter. Electing to go for two and converting, senior Tristan Varga took it into the end zone for two to make it 14-7. 

After a quick three and out on the following drive, Mountain View decided to go for it on fourth down but couldn’t convert, turning the ball over on downs at their own 42. Cactus was able to capitalize on the field position, marching into the endzone with a four-yard touchdown run by Tayejion Player.

Austin Doyle’s extra point attempt was good, making it 21-7 with 7:30 remaining before halftime. 

“There’s no doubt about it they’re a really good team,” Johnson said. “I mean, we knew we got a tough draw when we saw it … It was just one of those things where we knew it was going to be tough. They’re well-coached, they’re physical, they’re fast. It’s why they were top-four in the state.”

The following possession would prove to be the turning point, as the Mountain Lions decided to fake a punt but failed to convert, giving the ball back to Cactus at the Mountain View 27-yard-line.

From the 27, junior quarterback Antonio Casias was able to find junior Julian Moncivaiz in the end zone to extend the lead. It was 28-7 with 5:50 until halftime. 

Mountain View’s following possession would result in a punt, which was returned for a touchdown by Moncivaiz to put an exclamation point on the half. 

Cactus received the kickoff to start the second half and returned the ball all the way to the Mountain View 25. From there, Casias was again able to strike, finding Stubblefield for a touchdown. The extra point, this time by Aryn Prinz, was good, extending the lead to 42-7 only 11 seconds into the second half. 

With less than three minutes remaining in the third quarter, Cactus was able to reach the red zone once again, but an interception in the end zone by Diego Gomez gave the Mountain Lions possession at the 20.

Driving down the field, the Mountain Lions were able to capitalize on the turnover with a touchdown from Damien Wallace to Fernando Aguilar. The PAT was blocked by Talon Staggs, making it 42-13 with 9:57 remaining.

At this point, the Cobras put in backup quarterback Myron Lee and let him get some experience playing in the playoffs. The two teams traded the ball back and forth to run out the remainder of the clock and secure a huge win for Cactus. 

Cactus finished the night with 177 passing yards behind Casias, who completed 11 of 16 attempts. The defense was able to hold Mountain View to around 110 yards on the ground and about 90 in the air as Wallace completed 10 of 16 attempts. 

The Cobras will now move on to host the No. 12 Kellis Cougars (10-1) at home next week on Nov. 22.,  a cross-district match-up many have been anxious to see. 

It will only be the second meeting of these Glendale schools. Cactus won the first 55-6 in 2015, but Kellis was a rebuilding program at the time

“We’ve played them, actually, years ago,” Belles said. “But it’s a different staff and it’s a completely different deal.”

Belles said the Cobras are excited for the challenge that lies ahead and said they’ll be ready for what the Cougars bring. 

“Coach [Ben] Kullos over there has done a really good job of turning that program around. They have good players. Anytime you get to the final eight teams you’re going to play a good team, and his will be no different.”