Football Preview: Cactus Shadows Falcons vs. Notre Dame Prep Saints
Cactus Shadows is 0-6 against Notre Dame Prep since October of 2014 but things could change on Friday. The Cactus Shadows Falcons will square off against the Notre Dame Prep Saints at 7:00 p.m. Cactus Shadows is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 49.9 points per game this season.
Cactus Shadows is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Arizona's top teams: ALA - Gilbert North, who was ranked 19th in their home state at the time (Cactus Shadows was ranked 24th). Cactus Shadows fell 49-42 to ALA - Gilbert North on Friday. That's two games in a row now that the Falcons have lost by exactly seven points.
Cactus Shadows might have lost, but man, Donivan C Dixon was a machine: he threw for 284 yards and four touchdowns, and also rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown on only eight carries. C Dixon is on a roll when it comes to passing touchdowns, as he's now passed for three or more in the last three games he's played dating back to last season. Andrew Muirhead handled things on the ground, rushing for 119 yards.
He was just one part of a punishing run game: Cactus Shadows was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 248 rushing yards. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as ALA - Gilbert North only rushed for 143.
Meanwhile, Notre Dame Prep was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their third straight defeat. They were dealt a 34-0 loss at the hands of Higley.
Notre Dame Prep wouldn't let Higley keep a hold of the ball as they managed to force two fumbles. Notre Dame Prep can thank Nathan Jones and J.J. Francis for forcing both of them. Francis also set a new season high mark in total tackles with four. Notre Dame Prep got some further help from Mason Pavone: he made 16 total tackles and defended a pass.
This is the second loss in a row for Cactus Shadows and nudges their season record down to 5-3. As for Notre Dame Prep, their defeat dropped their record down to 4-3.
Friday's matchup might be decided in the on the ground. Cactus Shadows has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 293.8 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Notre Dame Prep struggles in that department as they've been averaging 149.4. It's looking like Friday's match might have some serious battles in the trenches.
Cactus Shadows came up short against Notre Dame Prep in their previous matchup back in October of 2023, falling 32-21. Can Cactus Shadows avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
