The Cactus Cobras and the Greenway Demons were off to a slow start in tonight’s game, but it was Cactus who scored first after Greenway held them at the 6 yard line and forced a field goal attempt. Cj Buze put away the 12-yard field goal and gave the Cobras the 3-0 lead.

Cactus was forced to punt on their next possession and Greenway quarterback Kenneth Heinzerling connected with Joey McDonald on a 50-yard touchdown reception, giving them the 7-3 lead. Just before the end of the first half, quarterback Talal Yousufzai connected with Buze on a 36-yard touchdown reception, but was unable to execute on the point after. The teams headed into the locker room with Cactus on top 9-7.

Cactus came out with a bang in the second half as Josh Kindred ran back a 96-yard kickoff return into the end zone just 18 seconds into the 3rd quarter, improving the Cobras lead 16-7. The remainder of the third quarter was quiet for both team’s offense, but in the fourth, kicker Ninos Yakhana put away a field goal to come within 6 points of the lead. Cactus struggled with their snaps and Greenway made them pay, as Yousufzai fumbled the ball and Taylor Lewis recovered for the Demons, with 6:32 left in the game. Greenway took over and Heinzerling was able to connect with McDonald on a 49-yard reception, followed by several missed tackles by the Cobras and the Demons took the 17-16 lead.

Alex Armbrust came up with a huge play for Cactus as he caught an 8-yard reception in the end zone to regain the lead 22-17. In the final minute of play, Greenway battled their way down the field, but the Cactus defense proved to be too strong as time expired on the final play.

By Jennifer Jimenez