The game was close through the first quarter, but third-seeded Cactus scored three touchdowns in less than four minutes in the second, as the Cobras cruised into the semifinals of the Division III playoffs with a 48-7 rout of sixth-seeded Nogales Thursday night in Glendale. Cactus senior quarterback Michael Putko, who rushed for 190 yards and four scores in the teams 33-6 opening round win over Desert Edge, had another big night. Putko ran for 111 yards and two scores, including an 82-yard scamper that gave Cactus a 14-7 lead in the second quarter. Plutko then connected with Dante Edwards on a 25-yard TD to make it 21-7 and the Cobras never looked back.

Freshman Josh Aguirre added 96 yards and a score on the ground for Cactus, which will take on seventh-seeded Arcadia in the semifinals next Saturday at Paradise Valley High School. The special teams also stepped up big as Cactus kicker Brody Riggs forced a fumble and returned the ball for a score following the Edwards TD in the second. Senior wide out Levi Jiles then returned the opening kickoff of the second half 80-plus yards for a touchdown, making it 35-7. The defense contributed a pair of interceptions and made huge stops all night long as well, holding Nogales to 270 total yards of offense.

Cactus will face an Arcadia squad that is coming off a huge come from behind win over second-seeded Peoria Liberty. Sosaia Maafu rushed for 252 yards and scored four total touchdowns; three rushing and one receiving; as the Titans erased an early 17-0 deficit and beat Liberty 35-34.

Marcel Renteria finished 14-of-35 for 159 yards with one TD and two interceptions for the Apaches, who were coming off a first round win over Agua Fria. Brian McCarty had 15 carries for 80 yards, while Chris Valencia posted eight catches for 77 yards including a 31-yard TD. Nogales ends its season at 10-and-2.

Thomas Jenkins