Cactus Shadows readies for defense of Desert Sky Region title
MARC BUCKHOUT ~ MANAGING EDITOR ~ 9/1/2010

The Cactus Shadows High School football team went 11-1 in 2009 thanks in large part to an offense that put up 40 points per game and a team that found a way to win tight games.
In contests decided by a touchdown or less the Falcons went a perfect 5-0 with a pair of one point victories as well as a pair of double overtime games in that mix.
As the 2010 season prepares to kick-off at 7 p.m. on Friday, when the Falcons host Cienega, Cactus Shadows coach Chad DeGrenier is hopeful that this year’s returners learned what it takes to be successful from last year’s Desert Sky Region championship campaign.
“Our big goal is to get better each week,” the coach said. “If we can do that I like our chances come playoff time. Everyone is good in our region. They all went to the playoffs so we’ll have to be sharp to win it again. You have to make sure you win your non-region games.”
DeGrenier expects perennial power Saguaro to be the team’s chief competition along with McClintock. The region also includes Apache Junction and Queen Creek.
As for the Falcons, the team will have a number of new starters, most prominently Bryce Kinsler, a sophomore, who takes over under center in place of 2010 graduate Dillon Classen.
“I like him because he’s very coachable, he’s very competitive and you only have to tell him to do something once,” DeGrenier said. “If he makes a mistake he learns from it.”
Senior left tackle Alex Yazdi, who leads an experienced line, said Kinsler has earned the respect of his older teammates.
“We are all encouraging,” Yazdi said. “We give him tips about making sure he is loud enough with the snap count and little things like that. I know he has the arm for the job. He can make all the throws so I have a lot of faith.”
That being said the 6-foot-2 260 pound senior expects that this year’s offense will be a little more balanced than what he described as a pass-happy unit a season ago.
The senior said the line which is also highlighted by Parker Larue, a 6-foot-2 245 pound senior, senior guard Andrew Miller at 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, junior guard Sal Monteon, 6-foot-3 and 252 pounds and newcomer Landon Weaver, a 6-foot-2 235 pound junior, will be more than happy to incorporate more run plays into the offense.
“That way you get a chance for more pancakes {blocks in which offensive lineman take the defensive player to the ground},” he said.
The Falcons coach wouldn’t mind that at all.
“I hope for our sake that we can run the ball well with those guys,” DeGrenier said. “We ran the ball well last year when that’s what the defense gave us.”
Senior Matt Gersh will be one of the Falcons looking to take advantage of the experienced offensive line both as a receiver and in the backfield joining the likes of fellow senior Austin Stephens as a dual threat.
“I like our offense,” Gersh said. “We’ve got a big offensive line and I think we have a more balanced receiving unit than last year.”
Among the other targets for Kinsler will be seniors Joree Schneider and John Leonard. Schneider was the team’s leading receiver a season ago, pulling in 57 passes for 757 yards and seven touchdowns while Leonard had 35 receptions for 367 yards and five touchdowns.
Defensively Yazdi, who led the team with six sacks a season ago, is looking to take his game to another level.
“My goal is 13 sacks,” he said. “I missed some last year so I’m hungry to do better this season. Our whole defensive line is going to wreak havoc.”
Yazdi said fellow lineman Parker Larue, a 6-foot-2 245 pound senior, will be one of the primary trouble makers for opposing offenses.
The secondary also has some experience. While the team lost Tommy Murphy, who recorded 11 interceptions, to graduation, the combination of Gersh, Schneider and fellow senior Austin Stephens give DeGrenier some confidence that his team will be strong against
the pass as well.
While the linebackers are the least experienced unit on the defense the coach said senior Joey Hughes, making the transition from the defensive line, has a chance to have an impact season.
While last year’s experienced squad started the season with three straight road games this year’s younger team will get a chance to build confidence by playing their first three games at home.
After Friday’s opener at Cienega the Falcons will be in the spotlight in Week 2, hosting Greenway on Sept. 9 in the Cox 7 Thursday Game of the Week.
“We have the experience of winning and we understand how important it is to stick together,” Gersh said. “As long as we believe in each other we can go far.”
Yazdi agreed. “We’ve got to be disciplined,” he said. “If everybody commits to doing their job we can be the team that wins
a state championship.”