Cactus’s second-half turnaround opened the floodgates against the Peoria Panthers, easily winning 57-34 in a regional home game between the No. 2- and No. 3-ranked teams in 4A.

The Cobras (6-0,1-0) opened the second half down 14-6, but started the third quarter on a 21-0 run before Peoria could score.

“We got them to turn it over a couple times, and we started making some big plays,” Cactus coach Larry Fetkenhier said.

The Cobras defense came into Friday’s rivalry game against Peoria with 17 turnovers recovered. The defense added four more to its list after picking off Peoria senior quarterback Nate Dobson three times and recovering a fumble off senior running back Sonatane Zabala.

Peoria coach William Babb said that when his team turned the ball over in the second half and it changed the momentum of the game.

“When you can run the ball like that, and we compound that by turning the ball over, we are going to have a long night,” Babb said.

Cactus’s star player of the night was senior running back Damaria Norris. Norris came into the rivalry game with 17 total touchdowns. Norris added six more Friday night, also finishing with 300 yards rushing.

“It was the O-line. Honestly I ran straight most of the time,” Norris said. “They were moving bodies like they always do.”

Norris’s night might take the spotlight with his outstanding performance, but senior quarterback Mahal Lee finished with 129 passing yards and two touchdowns.

“We were just executing; defense was just amazing,” Lee said. “That’s how you win a ballgame, and it being a blowout the feeling is just great.”

Fetkenhier said that his team started making some big plays revolving around Norris.

“Why aren’t there any colleges in America that doesn’t think (Norris) can play for them,” Fetkenhier said. “I think he’s pretty special. What we ask him to do is off the charts.”

The Panthers (5-1, 0-1) had some positives to take out of this game, as Dobson connected in the air with senior wide receiver Elijah Neal for two touchdowns.

Cactus holds the all-time edge over Peoria with a record of 18-13-1.

Next week the Cobras face the Sunrise Mountain Mustangs (5-1, 2-0), and the Panthers look to get back on the win column as they face the Greenway Demons (5-1,0-0) on Oct. 6.