As the 2024 high school football season kicks off, teams all across the Valley are in game-mode. But few teams are hungry for as much redemption and retribution as the Cactus Cobras. 

The last time the Cobras took the field, they were beaten by the No. 13 seeded Campo Verde Coyotes in the first round of the 5A playoffs, an upset that stunned the historically successful football program.

As the 2022 state runner-ups and a program that has not missed the state playoffs since 2000, Cactus often finds itself in a similar position atop the Desert West.

“I think the expectation for us is always to put ourselves in a position to win a region championship, which we’ve been able to do the last four years in a row. And put ourselves in the position to be a high seed come playoffs,” said head coach Brian Belles. 

Belles joined the Cobras in 1999, where he took on various assistant coaching positions, but made the jump from defensive coordinator to head coach in 2022. 

“Our slogan for this season is ‘we is greater than me.’ To be successful, we all have to be selfless and put the team needs before the individual needs,” Belles said.

Juju Stubblefield is planning on leaving his mark this season for the Cobras. The senior receiver put up 80 yards per game and six total touchdowns in the second haf of last year and is expecting great things from himself in his senior year. 

“My mindset is just to kill. Do everything I know I can do. I’m for sure trying to break 1,000 yards this year. If not, I feel like I can break the record,” Stubblefield said.

In 2022, the Cobras nearly took home their first state title since 2009, but ultimately fell short to Higley, who are looking to win their third straight state championship this year.

This Cactus team is much more experienced than last year’s and will be striving to hoist a trophy of their own come November.

“We just need everybody on board and we need to get everyone with that killer mentality,” Stubblefield said. “We need to get better with conditioning to be able to play all four quarters hard … With those two factors, we can take a championship home.”

On the defensive side, Cactus will greatly benefit from the return of senior Tristan Varga. The 6-2, 205-pound outside linebacker missed significant time last season after breaking his foot, but is expected to boost the Cobras’ pass-rush this season.

“I’ve been putting in lots of work with coaches one-on-one and watching lots of players' highlights such as TJ Watt, Micah Parsons and Von Miller and just seeing how they play and move, trying to copy the way they play,” Varga said.

Another rising star and one with the potential to take a leap in their sophomore season is Donta Sutton. The receiver/defensive end started last year as a freshman and Belles has high hopes he can continue his upward trajectory on both sides of the ball.

Junior quarterback Antonio Casis returns as do senior offensive lineman Antonio Olguin, junior offensive lineman Adrian Suarez, senior two-way lineman Aman Fears and senior defensive tackle Aaron Lopez.

Receiver/cornerback Nikko Boncore and offensive guard Chuy Diaz transferred to Centennial. Offensive/defensive line powerhouse Ami Moala moved back to Utah.

The transfer portal brought a late gift in senior running back Tayejion Player from region rival Millennium.

They are well aware of the fact that it won’t be a cakewalk, but regardless of last season’s outcome, the Cobras are no stranger to success and will be a team that opponents can't afford to underestimate.

“I think last year was just kind of a wake up call to show you that nothing is guaranteed,” Belles said.