Horizon Bounces Back with 34-21 Victory Over Cactus Shadows

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — After suffering its first loss of the season just one week ago, the Horizon Huskies returned to their winning ways Thursday night, defeating the Cactus Shadows Falcons 34-21 in a 5A Northeast Valley region matchup at Horizon High School.

The victory improved Horizon's record to 6-1 overall and 1-1 in region play, while Cactus Shadows dropped to 2-5 overall and 0-2 in the region.

For Horizon, Thursday night's victory was an important response following a disappointing 24-3 loss to Notre Dame Prep on October 2. That defeat ended the Huskies' five-game winning streak and marked the first time their offense had been held below 30 points this season.

Before that loss, Horizon had been one of the state's more explosive offensive teams, opening its season with five consecutive victories. The Huskies scored 63 points against Verrado, 61 against Apollo, 35 against Cactus, 55 against Sunnyslope and 35 against McClintock.

Thursday's performance brought Horizon back to the offensive production that helped establish its strong start to the 2026 season.

One of the biggest strengths of Horizon's offense throughout the year has been its rushing attack. Entering the matchup, the Huskies were averaging 323.7 rushing yards per game, creating problems for opposing defenses with their ability to consistently move the football on the ground.

Sophomore running back Dylan Brush has played a significant role in Horizon's offensive success this season. Brush entered Thursday's matchup averaging 213.3 rushing yards per game, establishing himself as one of the key pieces of the Huskies' offense.

While Horizon has leaned heavily on its rushing attack throughout the season, Cactus Shadows entered Thursday's contest with a different offensive approach.

The Falcons had averaged 195.5 passing yards per game heading into the matchup, with junior quarterback Gage Millard serving as a key part of their passing offense. Millard entered the game averaging 181.6 passing yards per contest.

However, Horizon's defense proved to be a major factor in Thursday's victory.

According to statistics posted by MaxPreps statistics, the Huskies recorded 74 total tackles, seven sacks, and three interceptions against Cactus Shadows. The defensive production helped Horizon secure its sixth victory of the season and highlighted its ability to create pressure against an opposing passing attack.

For Cactus Shadows, Thursday's loss continued a difficult stretch of region competition.

The Falcons entered the matchup looking to rebound from a 42-16 loss to Desert Mountain the previous week. Before beginning region play, Cactus Shadows appeared to be finding its rhythm, earning consecutive victories over Camelback and Paradise Valley.

Those victories included a 40-13 win over Camelback on September 18 and a dominant 50-6 performance against Paradise Valley on September 25.

Since then, the Falcons have struggled to carry that momentum into their region schedule, suffering back-to-back losses against Desert Mountain and Horizon.

Despite falling short Thursday, Cactus Shadows managed to score 21 points against a Horizon defense that had surrendered only 103 points through its first six games.

The Falcons' offensive production was an improvement from their previous matchup against Desert Mountain, but it wasn't enough to overcome Horizon's 34-point performance.

For the Huskies, the victory carried significance beyond improving their overall record.

With the regular season entering its final weeks, every region matchup becomes increasingly important as teams compete for positioning in the 5A playoff picture.

Horizon has now won all four of its home games this season, making its home-field success another encouraging sign for the program as the postseason approaches.

Although the loss to Notre Dame Prep ended Horizon's undefeated start, Thursday's response showed the Huskies remain a team capable of competing at a high level heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

Cactus Shadows, meanwhile, faces a challenging road ahead. With five losses through seven games, the Falcons will need to find consistency on both sides of the football as they look to finish their season on a stronger note.

Both programs will return to action on Friday, October 16.

Horizon will travel to face Highland in a non-region matchup before returning to region competition against Desert Mountain on October 23.

Cactus Shadows will travel to Notre Dame Prep for another difficult region matchup before hosting Chaparral on October 23.

With just three regular-season games remaining for both teams, Thursday's outcome could play an important role in how their seasons finish.

For Horizon, the 34-21 victory was more than another win on the schedule. It was an opportunity to move past its first setback, regain momentum, and continue building toward what the Huskies hope will be a postseason run.