Cave Creek Cactus Shadows senior quarterback Bryce Kinsler had the best first quarter you can have with a 6-for-16 performance.

Despite the dreadful start, Kinsler fired across the middle of the field to complete a 12-yard pass and break the Arizona career passing yardage record just before intermission. The completion gave Kinsler 8,520 yards over three years of work. He ended up with 235 passing yards in the game and 8,679 yards for his career — the new state record. Kinsler said afterward that breaking the record was “unreal.”

“If there is anyone who deserves it, it’s him,” Coach Greg Davis said. “He is the best player I have ever coached.”

All six completions in the first were caught by senior wide out Matt Hartlen, who had 109 receiving yards on 10 catches en route to a 50-17 Cactus Shadows victory.

“Hartlen makes plays on both sides of the ball,” Davis said. “He carries both our offense and our defense.”

Shadow Mountain was within reach down 27-17 at halftime, but Shadow Mountain threw four interceptions in the third quarter leading to a lopsided 41-17 score line heading to the fourth.

“A lot of underclassmen in that defense, so we’re are excited about what we saw tonight for next year,” Davis said.

Cactus Shadows senior RJ Anderson had one of those intercptions to go along with three rushing touchdowns as the team’s top running back.

Cactus Shadows (3-7) made a couple of mistakes that caused the game to be closer than it really was. It had four turnovers itself, including three fumbles. It even fumbled on the goal line with eight minutes left in the fourth, allowing Shadow Mountain to start at its 20.

Then after two penalties put it back at the 5, the snap went over senior Mickey Conover’s head. He grabbed it and ran out of the back of the end zone for a safety.

It was that kind of night for Shadow Mountain as it got pounded on the ground by eight different ball carriers from Cactus Shadows.