Stars Carry the Night in ALA Gilbert North–Cactus Shadows Clash

ALA Gilbert North and Cactus Shadows went blow for blow in a wild back‑and‑forth game that felt like it could tilt either way right up until the final whistle. It was a night full of momentum swings and explosive plays, the kind of game where every possession felt like it might decide things. Both teams landed haymakers, answering score for score. That mix of drama and big‑time performances is what made this one so special — and now it's time to highlight the players who carried the night and kept everyone on the edge of their seats.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">ALA Gilbert North</h2>    Weston Powell showed exactly why ALA Gilbert North leans on him, racking up 110 yards and two touchdowns on just 10 carries while looking every bit the part of a workhorse back. He runs with a great burst and that one‑cut acceleration that makes outside zone and counter plays pop, but what really stands out is his balance — he keeps his feet under him and powers through arm tackles instead of going down easy. He's got the speed to break away when he finds a seam and the patience to let blocks develop before hitting top gear. Even when things don't go perfectly, he doesn't let one bad play rattle him, and that steady mentality makes him a reliable presence in the backfield. Add in the fact that he can make plays for you on the other side of the ball, and you start to see just how much of an impact player Powell truly is. Averaging 11 yards a carry in this one, Powell proved he can tilt the field in a hurry and give his team explosive plays when they need a spark.     [player_tooltip player_id='1190648' first='Isaac' last='Massey'] was everywhere in this game, making his presence felt on both sides of the ball. The junior two‑way playmaker hauled in five catches for 87 yards and a touchdown, then flipped to defense and picked off two passes that swung the momentum to ALA Gilbert North. What makes him special is how naturally his length and timing translate no matter where he lines up — he high‑points fades as a receiver and then flips around to drive on out‑cuts as a corner, always looking in control. His footwork and agility allow him to stick with speedy wideouts through their routes, and when the ball is in the air he breaks on it fast and aggressively, finishing plays with clean form tackles in space. On offense, he's got the kind of speed that can flip the field in a single snap, giving his team a true game‑breaker. It was the kind of all‑around performance that makes him a nightmare to prepare for and showed just how valuable he is to his team.     Ben Livingston delivered a breakout performance that firmly put him on my radar, completing 10 of 15 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns while showing he can do a little bit of everything. He worked the quick game with confidence, taking calculated shots off play‑action and keeping the offense on schedule without falling into mistakes. What stood out most, though, was the completeness of his game. He threw a beautiful deep ball with touch and accuracy, mixed in some off‑platform throws at odd arm angles, and showed the ability to make plays on the run, putting the ball right where it needed to be. When things broke down, he wasn't afraid to tuck it and use his legs to fight for tough yards in critical moments. For someone who I hadn't heard much about before this, it was the kind of well‑rounded showing that jumped off the screen.     Kutter Thorley made his presence felt in this one, finishing with seven tackles, a tackle for loss, five quarterback hurries, and a pass deflection while flashing the all‑around skill set that makes him such a key piece for ALA Gilbert North's defense. Built with plenty of power coming from the ground up, he has smooth lateral movement for a guy his size and can explode with that first step when he wants to. He played with a high motor throughout the night and showed a real willingness to take on blocks and still find his pursuit angle. Against the run he was rock solid, filling gaps confidently and using his strength to clog lanes. What stood out was how smart and controlled he played — never out of position, never freelancing, just doing his job with consistency and force.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cactus Shadows</h2>    [player_tooltip player_id='401159' first='Donivan' last='Dixon'] put on a show even in a tough loss, piling up a career‑high 405 yards through the air and adding another 98 and two scores on the ground. A Northern Arizona commit with multiple all‑region honors already under his belt, he looks every bit the part of a future college starter. What really stands out is his poise — he's calm in the pocket, works through progressions with patience, and doesn't flinch even when he knows he's about to take a hit. The chemistry with his receivers jumps off the screen with the timing of his throws, and you can tell they trust him to put the ball exactly where it needs to be. The QB run and RPO game leaned heavily on his ability to extend plays and keep drives alive, and he consistently gave his team a chance with both his arm and legs. Even with a couple of heartbreaking early losses, he carries himself with a quiet confidence that makes you believe he can steady the ship and keep Cactus Shadows fighting all season.     [player_tooltip player_id='1682333' first='Dillon' last='Aspiras'] proved why he belongs in the conversation with the state's other top wideouts, hauling in 13 catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns. He's incredibly smooth in and out of his breaks and has that next gear to stretch the field vertically, but it's the consistency of his routes that really shines. Every cut is sharp, every stem looks the same, and that allows his QB to trust that he'll be exactly where he needs to be and deliver throws on time. He was the reliable volume outlet all night, keeping drives alive with chain‑moving grabs and then capping possessions in the end zone. Separation just comes easy for him, and it's clear that his timing and chemistry with Dixon make him a nightmare to cover when protection holds up.     [player_tooltip player_id='1603188' first='Alex' last='Dafnis'] was a matchup nightmare all night, finishing with eight catches for 74 yards while showing off the versatility that makes him such a unique weapon. At 6'3” and around 215 pounds, he's got the size to line up as a traditional tight end but the athleticism to slide out wide or even into the backfield, which Cactus Shadows used a few times to get him into some favorable matchups. He worked the seams and play‑action stick routes with ease, using his big frame to box out smaller defenders, and when plays broke down he freelanced into space, always giving his quarterback a reliable outlet. What stood out most was how often he was the go‑to option in high‑leverage downs and red‑zone situations, towering over DBs and coming up with chain‑moving grabs. His feel for finding soft spots in coverage and making himself available made him the steadying presence Dixon leaned on when the game got tight.     [player_tooltip player_id='1881077' first='Casen' last='Stieg'] was a constant presence in the backfield, finishing with nine tackles and two tackles for loss, and he played like the kind of disruptor every defense needs. He knifed past blockers with ease on multiple occasions, using good hand placement to shed linemen and blow up plays before they had a chance to develop. He affected throws, stuffed runs, and generally created chaos for both the quarterback and running backs. The only thing you'd like to see more of is a little extra aggression when attacking ball carriers in the heavy traffic of the trenches, but even with that, he turned in a really solid outing. His quickness and effort made a big impact on this game and showed just how important he is to the Cactus Shadows defense.

ALA Gilbert North and Cactus Shadows went blow for blow in a wild back‑and‑forth game that felt like it could tilt either way right up until the final whistle. It was a night full of momentum swings and explosive plays, the kind of game where every possession felt like it might decide things. Both teams landed haymakers, answering score for score. That mix of drama and big‑time performances is what made this one so special — and now it's time to highlight the players who carried the night and kept everyone on the edge of their seats.