By Don Ketchum

Glendale Cactus had played two straight overtime games entering Friday night’s (Oct. 8) game at Phoenix Washington.

For awhile, it appeared this one might be No. 3. But the defending Class 4A Division II state champion broke open a close game on a touchdown with 5:11 left in the game and captured a 43-28 victory in Black Canyon Region play.

The win raised Cactus’ record to 5-1, while Washington dropped from the unbeaten ranks at 5-1. In those overtime games, Cactus had defeated Scottsdale Saguaro but was stunned by Queen Creek a week ago.

“We had had enough of those (overtimes). We needed a “cleansing,’ ’’ said Cactus coach Larry Fetkenhier.

The cleansing came as senior running back Lashunn Norris got down and dirty.

He juked and churned his way to a 334-yard rushing effort with three touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 23 yards.

Norris scored on a 20-yard run with 5:11 left, and when Cactus got the ball back with 4:21 left, he ran for two key first downs to keep the drive alive and the clock ticking.

“I had been kind of on him a little bit,’’ Fetkenhier said. “I wanted him to run with more passion, and he came out and did that tonight. This is who I expected him to be. If he keeps doing that, we have a good chance to win.

“This was a big, big game for us. Washington is a good team. They have some people who can hurt you.’’

He was referring mainly to senior quarterback Devonte Smythe, a Michael Vick clone who throws left-handed and even wears the same number (7).

Smythe threw for 249 yards in the first half but only 70 in the second half as the Cactus defense kept him bottled up. He rushed for only 22 yards on 12 carries, and 14 of those yards came on a touchdown run in with 9:26 left in the third quarter to cut the Cactus lead to 34-28.

Wide receiver Stephen Lopez had a big night for Washington with eight catches for 160 yards.

And Washington tried to flatten the Cobras with 6-foot-3, 315-pound fullback (that’s no typo) Greg Price. He rushed for 52 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, but Cactus stopped him when it needed to. He also was plagued by leg cramps.

Of Smythe’s potential to do damage, Fetkenhier said, “That No. 7 scurries around. He runs well. We tried to stop him.’’

Asked if he was pleased with his defense, he said, “We’re still a work in progress.’’