july 22, 2015
Falcons building on momentum from 2014’s last-game upset win
August 12 home scrimmage vs. (Mesa) Westview will debut new artificial playing surface
CSHS – Can any football team gain momentum from an upset win on the road in its regular season finale? Can any such momentum be carried over into the following campaign? For consideration, this writer “nominates” head Coach Mike Hudnutt’s Cactus Shadows Falcons.
I offer: October 31, 2014, obviously, Halloween. The Falcons, standing at a disappointing 2-7 after a credible “Senior Night” performance against mighty Chaparral, make the long bus ride to (south Scottsdale) Arcadia. For the ‘Birds, there will be no State Playoffs – they’re playing only for pride. Their Arcadian hosts, honoring their seniors, are 7-2, needing one more win to clinch a State Playoff berth.
Older Sonoran News readers may remember Little Orphan Annie’s surprised exclamation, “Gloryosky, ‘Zero’!” The underdog Falcons “tricked” the Titans, 41-28, thereby “treating” Coach Hudnutt to the signature victory in his inaugural season as CSHS head coach. And these Falcs unknowingly left a legacy of momentum to the 2015 Falcons. Such a season-ending momentum is tough to come by, but much appreciated by Coach Hudnutt and his staff. Congratulations to them on sustaining – and growing – the team’s progress and spirit during the usual long and hot pre-season.
For the Falcons, this writer has consistently longed for “strength in numbers,” especially during the energy-sapping heat of August and September’s first five games. Be encouraged, Falcon fans, that on July 13, Coach Hudnutt embarked 71 players to Football Camp at Winslow High School. Athletic Director Mike Siwek’s office doesn’t house records for Football Camp attendance; but I’d wager that 71 varsity aspirants set a new CSHS mark. Add the 35-40 rising freshman who’ve been working out this summer under new Freshman Head Coach Adrian Drew and it’s apparent that football at Cactus Shadows is alive and well. Again … mo-men-tum.
“We’re excited about the upcoming season,” Coach Hudnutt enthused to Sonoran News in a July 19 telephone interview. He continued, “The kids have trained and conditioned hard since January; and we got a lot accomplished at Camp.” The Falcons resume light practice July 27; put on helmets August 3; then go to “full pads” two days later. After the August 6 start of school, depending upon afternoon temperatures, the Falcons will be on their new artificial turf (“Sprint Turf”) playing field at 3:30 p.m. each Monday-Thursday. Adios (at last!) to practicing and game nights on what resembled a sparsely-sodded pasture. Thank you, Dr. Debbi Burdick and CCUSD!
Seventy-one players at Football Camp: one player, one vote. For this 2015 season, they’ve elected six captains. “The top six vote-getters were bunched very close. With all six being potentially-effective captains, my coaches and I decided to go with six captains, instead of the usual four. I’m confident that these young men will give us the leadership we need, both at practice and on Friday nights,” Coach Hudnutt explained to Sonoran News.
With Picture Day slated for Saturday, August 8, “Senior Profiles” and accompanying photos for the six captains will be follow in the Sonoran News online edition, August 12. In advance, Captains (whoever you may be), congratulations! And best wishes for a successful season.
~ Pete Mohr
