5A State Championship Preview
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Overview The #3 and #4 seeds will play each other in the 5A state championship, with Higley and Cactus both upsetting the #1 and #2 seeds. Higley’s explosive offense is going to have a huge test, and vice versa, as…
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The #3 and #4 seeds will play each other in the 5A state championship, with Higley and Cactus both upsetting the #1 and #2 seeds. Higley’s explosive offense is going to have a huge test, and vice versa, as that stout Cactus defense goes up against a high powered, score on command Higley offense. Higley finished the regular season 8-2 and have been as impressive as anyone. The main part of that is becuase of the highly touted 2025 QB Jamar Malone, who has thrown for 3,763 yards and 42 TD’s and has rushed for 851 yards and 10 TD’s. Malone holds numerous P5 offers and is earning every one of them with his consistent wowing performances every week. Cactus started off 0-2 vs two tough opponents (Desert Mountain, ALA-QC), and then went on a roll to finish the regular season 7-3, with their other loss coming against 6A Basha. It hasn’t been easy though, as they come off 3 close playoff wins vs Willow Canyon 21-14, Horizon 26-18, and Notre Dame Prep 21-17. Cactus has a game changer in ATH Will Galvan Will Galvan 5'9" | 160 lbs | ATH Cactus | 2023 State AZ who has proven to excel at pretty much any position he’s thrown into, and it’ll be an interesting matchup tomorrow night at Sun Devil Stadium.
Cactus Key Players
Will Galvan Will Galvan 5'9" | 160 lbs | ATH Cactus | 2023 State AZ , ATH, 2023
Damian Jiles Damian Jiles 5'8" | 200 lbs | RB Cactus | 2023 State AZ , RB, 2023
Nikko Boncore, WR, 2025
Dom Solano Dom Solano 6'4" | 220 lbs | DL Cactus | 2023 State AZ , DE, 2023 *23.5 sacks
Braiden Lagafuaina Braiden Lagafuaina 6'3" | 175 lbs | ATH Cactus | 2024 State AZ , QB, 2024
Higley Key Players
Jamar Malone, QB, 2025
Nijrell Eason Nijrell Eason 6'0" | 165 lbs | DB Higley | 2024 State AZ , DB, 2024
Daxen Hall, ATH, 2024
Carter Hancock Carter Hancock 5'11" | 160 lbs | WR Higley | 2023 State AZ , WR, 2023
Dom Esposito, WR, 2023
Kamarion Peete, LB, 2025