OCTOBER 9, 2013

Offense stays on fall break? Falcons shot down by ‘Slope

#18 CSHS vs. #16 Notre Dame at “neutral” site, Friday, Oct. 11, 7 p.m.
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Friday, October 4:  Sunnyslope, 35 – Cactus Shadows – 0. Wednesday, October 9: Score hasn’t changed.  Who wants to read (or write) about an embarrassing loss that’s now five days old? Not I! But, what the heck happened to the Falcons? They stand now at 4-2, dropped to #18 by MaxPreps. Speculation #1: Cactus Shadows’ fall break distracted the team from its normal practice regimen? Possibly. Speculation #2: 40-0 winless South Mountain lulled the Falcons into underestimating the 5-0 Vikings? Don’t think so. Speculation #3: The Falcons found out that playing a quality opponent – minus their biggest "O" threat, out-for-the-season running back Joe Kuhlmann – caused a more serious derailment of their offense than had been anticipated. Given the October 4 stat that shows only 25 snaps for the Falcon “O”, I’m going with #3, until Coach Davis educates me otherwise.

But 0-35 was last Friday; and last Friday’s gone. What counts most is, “Will the Falcons bounce back this Friday night against 3-3 Notre Dame, 0-42 losers on October 4 at #2 Chaparral?” Falcons have more than enough incentives to do so. Incentive #1: In spite of the goodwill from Notre Dame Athletic Director Monica Barrett (as in Barrett Gym), there’s no team the Falcons would rather beat than the Saints, who’ve also been injury-plagued. Incentive #2: Getting the “W” at S.C.C. would be the Falcon’s 5th, cementing a program-positive .500 season. That would be a big morale up-tick from the 3-7 back-to-backs of 2011 and 2012. Incentive #3: Upping their record to 5-2 would breathe life into the Falcons’ chances for making the Division II State Playoffs. Incentive #4: Defeating the archrival Saints would end Notre Dame’s win streak over CSHS at two (2011 and 2012). The 41-14 victory in 2011 was the Saints’ football first vs. Cactus Shadows.

I don’t have at my disposal the regular season records of the qualifiers for 2012’s Division II State Playoffs; but I’m assuming (always dangerous) that to get in, the Falcons will need to go 7-3. Maybe 6-4 will be the magic number. After Notre Dame will come #20 Paradise Valley on Homecoming night (October 18); down to the Chappies (October 25); and the Senior Night finale against #23 Arcadia (November 1). Coach Davis and his lads can "do the math" – they must win at least two of these last four games.

Get it done, Falcons! You can set an upbeat tone for Homecoming Week. Don't rain on Cameron Bender's and Allison Zilka's Homecoming parade!

~ Pete Mohr

Saturday’s 10 a.m. parade starts Homecoming week ‘13

Sci-fi’s “Back to the Future” is the theme for this year’s Homecoming Week at Cactus Shadows. Annual Homecoming Parade will step off at 10 a.m. from Harold’s, moving down Cave Creek Road to Spur Cross Road. Homecoming game, Falcons vs. Paradise Valley, is Friday, Oct. 18, 7 p.m. kickoff.

cshs homecoming parade