PHOENIX – Goodyear’s Desert Edge Scorpions defeated Glendale’s Cactus Cobras to win the 5A state championship game in Tempe.

The Scorpions defeated the Cobras 28-19.

Glendale’s Cactus (10-3, 4-1 5A Desert West Region) entered the title game fresh off a surprising win over No. 1 ALA-Gilbert North (9-4, 3-2 5A Northeast Valley Region), 38-. 35, in the semifinals last Friday evening. This is the first time in four years the Cobras will play for a state championship.

Goodyear’s No. 7 Desert Edge (9-4, 4-1 5A Desert West Region) participated in the 5A title game for the second straight year after falling to No. 6 Verrado (10-3, 4-1 5A Desert West Region had avenged their loss just three weeks ago when the Scorpions beat the Vipers 27-14 in the semifinals.

Cactus competed in the school’s 10th state championship game, but first in 5A. The Cobras’ last title game appearance came in 2020, when they lost 39-38 to Mesquite in the 4A title game. Cactus lost its fourth state title, the others coming in 2005 in 4A Division I and 2006 and 2009 in 4A Division II.

Desert Edge, on the other hand, appeared in the school’s fifth state championship game, but was just 1-3 in its previous four games and did not win a state championship (Division III) until 2015. The Scorpions came within two points of beating Higley in last year’s 5A state title game.

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According to MaxPreps, this was the 10th meeting between the regional rivals, and Desert Edge leads the series 5-4, defeating Cactus 21-6 earlier this season.

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The city of Phoenix is ​​home to five major professional sports league teams. The NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and the MLB’s Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home stadium, and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is ​​home to both the Suns and Mercury. The Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.

Phoenix also has a soccer team with Phoenix Rising FC of the USL, which plays at the Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.

The Valley hosts several major sporting events each year, including college football’s Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl. the PGA Tour’s most-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events every spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.