Brock Purdy spent Gilbert Perry's last week of spring football workouts playing center, his left hand in a soft cast and his right hand lobbing balls back to quarterbacks during drills.

Apparently, the only thing that's been able to slow the 2018 quarterback's sudden rise since an All-Arizona junior season was a cactus during a senior's team-bonding paint-ball game in the desert on Saturday.

He said during the last game, he fell and caught himself on a saguaro cactus which punctured his left hand and caused the ring finger to swell.

"The cactus won," coach Preston Jones quipped.

Purdy said the minor setback won't keep him out of any 7-on-7 passing tournament games in June.

During his junior season, he missed the last three games coming back from mononucleosis, only to become one of the best story lines to the 2016 football season. Purdy led Perry to the school's first-ever win over Chandler Hamilton on its way to the school's first-ever trip to the 6A state semifinals.

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Purdy was tremendous in both of Perry's wins over Hamilton last season, which included a 63-60 overtime quarterfinal in which he passed for 317 yards and five touchdowns and ran for 136 yards, including the game-winning score in overtime.

He later made azcentral sports' All-Arizona team and was among the final three Player of the Year finalists, after passing for 3,333 yards and 42 touchdowns and running for 842 yards and six TDs in just 10 games.

He put up big numbers against quality opponents, including 358 yards and five TDs in a 44-35 loss to state champion Chandler.

But in a state with elite quarterbacks getting major-college offers, Purdy hasn't generated the college interest expected from a season like that against top teams.

Why?

Purdy and coach Jones believe it has to do with his size.

Purdy is 6-foot-1 and weighs 197 pounds. Jones said that Purdy never really regained all of his strength after the mono.

But still his stats are off the charts.

Finding motivation

Purdy's only offers so far are from UNLV - who just offered on Wednesday - Northern Arizona and UC Davis.

Meanwhile, Michigan, Alabama and Florida State have offered Hamilton's 2018 quarterback Tyler Shough.

With that, Purdy is motivated more than ever.

He stopped playing baseball after last season, believing his college future is in football.

He still believes. And he is being patient and hopeful that this summer promises to lead to bigger Division I offers.

"I just think it's the height factor," Purdy said. "They're looking for that tall frame on a quarterback.

"I have what it takes to go D-I. Right now, we're just focused on the team and winning a state championship."

Closing the gap

Perry made huge strides behind Purdy last season.

It is at least in Hamilton's company if not approaching Chandler yet as a Southeast Valley football power.

"If we ever get our name mentioned in the same breath as Hamilton, which has won so many state championships, that's a big pat on our back," Jones said. "But we have a lot of work to do."

Perry has to replace its best big-play receiver from last season. Nate James is graduating after he caught 65 passes for 1,231 yards and 15 TDs.

Offensive weapons

Junior-to-be receivers Colby Dickie and D'Shayne James (Nate's brother) now become the go-to guys for Purdy. Dickie caught 12 TD passes last season with James hauling in seven TD passes. D'Shayne James, who played quarterback in the first three games last season, has been getting more major-college interest than Purdy. James measures 6-3, 210 pounds and is athletic.

James was getting the bulk of the work at QB this week with Purdy out.

"Last year our team was very young," James said. "It's going to be that way this year. But we've got kids who will be able to dominate with their athletic ability.

"I think it's going to be a good game this year (against Chandler). It's not going to be a blowout."

Perry's season ended last season in a 62-20 loss to Chandler in the semifinals. The Pumas lost Nate James to an injury early in that game.

The focus, the work, the passion has been on display this spring with Perry feeling something special is on the horizon.

"It's great chemistry here," Dickie said. "We're all close."

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert.