Desert View football’s win streak broken by Glendale team in state 5A playoffs
Desert View High School football’s perfect season came to a halt as the visiting Cactus High Cobras of Glendale edged them 22-20 in the second round of the state 5A football playoffs in Tucson on Nov. 13, 2026.
Desert View's Desmond Dowayee (0), left, and Greg McKinstry (5) wrestle with Cactus's Nathaniel Linares (12) as he rumbles up the middle and into the red zone in the first quarter of their 5A state playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Desert View's Desmond Dowayee (0) and Esteban Ortiz (50) flex after Dowayee’s run for a score on the first play from scrimmage against Cactus in the 5A state playoffs, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Cactus's Blake Pollard (57) makes the lunge to break the plane in despite the grip of the Desert View defense for a two point conversion in the third quarter of their 5A state playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Cactus's Jacob Martin (6) picks out Nathaniel Linares (12) getting off the pass under pressure from Desert View in the first quarter of their 5A state playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Cactus's Cole Douglas (4) makes a blind stab to get a hand on Desert View's Alberto Grijalva (13) after his catch outside in the first quarter of their 5A state playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Desert View's Desmond Dowayee (0) tries to fend off a Cactus defender in the second quarter of their 5A state playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Desert View's Anthony Rodarte (2) comes down with the pass after getting free and clear along the sidelines in the second quarter of the state 5A playoff game against Cactus's, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Desert View's Greg McKinstry (5) makes a shoestring tackle on Cactus's Cole Douglas (4) in their 5A state playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Cactus's Isaiah Moncivaiz (21) gets above the crowd to make the interception in the end zone and nip a Desert View threat in the second quarter of their 5A state playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Desert View's Desmond Dowayee (0) snares Cactus's Nathaniel Linares (12) by the toe to stop his run in the second quarter of their 5A state playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Desert View's Darvice Armstrong (42) fights off a hold to get a sack on Cactus's Jacob Martin (6) in the second quarter of their 5A state playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Desert View's Anthony Rodarte (2) leaves Cactus's Donta Sutton (0) hanging as he weaves his way upfield after a catch in the second quarter of their 5A state playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Desert View's Keanu Romero (19) comes down with the pass intended for Cactus's Nathaniel Linares (12) for the pick in the third quarter of their 5A state playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Desert View's Cliffe Nsabarah (37), left, Cristian Salgado (9) and Anakin Rivera (8) try to wrap up Cactus's Nathaniel Linares (12) in the third quarter of their 5A state playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Cactus's Cayvon Ozog (5) gets above Desert View's Keanu Romero (19) for the catch on a deep throw in their 5A state playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Cactus's Jaxson Taylor (81) stretches past the marker for a first down catch in the arms of Desert View's Lamichael Flannigan (6) in the third quarter of their 5A state playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Desert View's Keanu Romero (19), top, and Desmond Dowayee (0) get Cactus's James Angulo (1) horizontal stopping his carry in the third quarter of their 5A state playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
A Desert View helmet flies out of the scrum as the Jaguars try to bring down Cactus's Nathaniel Linares (12) in the third quarter of their 5A state playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Desert View's Desmond Dowayee (0) slips his way past Cactus's Miguel Alvarez (20) on an end run in the fourth quarter of their 5A state playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Desert View's Robert Medrano skips into the end zone ahead of Glendale Cactus's Isaiah Moncivaiz and Kameron Smith during their Class 5A state playoff game in Tucson on Nov. 13, 2026.
Desert View's Desmond Dowayee (0) sheds Cactus's TJ Ruelas (16) on a run in their 5A state playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Desert View's Anthony Saavedra (84) and Greg McKinstry (5) get Cactus's Nathaniel Linares (12) off his feet in the third quarter of their 5A state playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Desert View's Juan Ortega (71) shrugs into his jersey with help as the Jaguars get ready to face Cactus in the 5A state playoffs, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Desert View's Cliffe Nsabarah (37) eyes his target as the linemen workout before their game with Cactus in the 5A state playoffs, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Desert View's Anakin Rivera (8) and the Jaguars take to the field for their state 5A playoff game against Cactus, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
A Desert View players gets a hug from a coach after the Jaguars were nippied 22-20 and /c in the 5A state playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Desert View's Irvin Bonillas (10), left, and Eric Barcelo (14) make their way off the field after the Jaguars lost to Cactus 22-20 in the 5A state playoffs, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Cactus's Connor Carnahan (13), left, and James Angulo (1) celebrates the Cobra’s 22-20 upset of Desert View in the 5A state playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Desert View's head coach Robert Bonillas tries to get the Jaguars back for a quick huddle after giving up a touchdown to Cactus in the third quarter of their 5A state playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Desert View's Andrew Godoy (15) gets the time to get off his throw against Cactus, Tucson, Ariz., November 13, 2026.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
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