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Ryan Tahbo / Arizona Daily Star
Rise and shine: Sunnyside quarterback Sammy Olivas looks downfield while lineman Hector Araiza provides protection during the Blue Devils' practice Monday that started at 5 a.m. 

Sunnyside, Sabino have lofty traditions to uphold


By Chris Davis 
ARIZONA DAILY STAR 

The beauty of preseason football is that just about every team believes it has a shot at championship glory. 

Then there are other teams like Sunnyside and Sabino that know it. 

As practices opened throughout the state on Monday, Sunnyside and Sabino said expectations have never been higher. In fact, both schools are preparing for more than just an annual playoff run. 

"We all believe that we're going to state and we're going to win it," Sabino senior center Brandon Hodgeson said. "We play like that every day." 

With a pair of the state's top tailbacks in Glyndon Bolasky and Brooks Reed, Sabino might well be considered as the best Class 4A team in Southern Arizona. 

Still, Sabino coach Jay Campos insisted that the team won't be driven by standouts only. 

"We have some kids who are Division I prospects, but whether someone is a D-I prospect or coming off the JV team, there's a spot on the bench for them if they're not meeting my expectations," Campos said. 

"That's not a threat, but we have a lot of kids who are going to be pushing each other." 

Sunnyside knows that situation well. After winning a pair of 4A state trophies in the last four years, Sunnyside took the field at 5 a.m. Monday as a Class 5A team following a statewide realignment. 

Coach Richard Sanchez said he welcomes the challenge of playing bigger schools in the Class 5A Division II ranks. 

"We're OK with it, and if we were in 5A Division I, we'd fight with them, too," Sanchez said. "These guys are going to have to strap it up every week." 

Ryan Tahbo / Arizona Daily Star
Facing a bigger challenge: Sunnyside has won a state championship twice in the last four seasons, but this year the Blue Devils move from Class 4A to Class 5A Division II. Whereas the Blue Devils chalked up numerous blowout wins in years past, their schedule this year features a much more difficult list of foes. 

That's a far cry from last season, when Sunnyside's reserves seemed to see more time than the starters during a string of blowout victories. 

In 2005, the Blue Devils will face Glendale Mountain Ridge, Phoenix Shadow Mountain, Chandler Basha and Mesa Mountain View in the first five weeks. 

"We've got a dang tough schedule - you get done with one tough team, and there's another one the next week," Sanchez said. 

"We don't have any weak teams on our schedule, but we've got as good a shot as any of those other teams." 

Sabino feels equally as confident as the Blue Devils, after having the vast majority of its team receive playoff experience in 2004. 

Sabino started strong last year but finished with a double-digit loss in the first round of the playoffs. With that in mind, the screws will be tightened further as the first game approaches. 

Sabino will travel to play Springfield High School in Springfield, Ore., and Sunnyside will host Glendale Mountain Ridge on Sept. 2. 

Southern Arizona's football season officially kicks off on Aug. 26, when Douglas hosts Bisbee and Nogales hosts Rincon/University. 

All four schools were allowed to start practicing on Aug. 1, according to Arizona Interscholastic Association rules. 

Sabino's Hodgeson said the sacrifices of hard work this early should pay off at the end of the season. 

"I don't care how hard we have to work because I know it's going to pay off in the end," he said.