Blue Devils show off skills on offense

Sunnyside High School brought plenty of offense to go with its stingy defense.

The Blue Devils erupted for 34 unanswered points as they hammered visiting Mesa Desert Ridge 54-14 to win a Class 5A Division II first-round playoff game Friday night.

The South Siders scored 37 points in the second half after starting the third quarter leading 17-0.

"The kids did a good job. They turned it on in the second half," Sunnyside coach Richard Sanchez said.

Sunnyside tacked on 20 points in the fourth quarter to guarantee itself at least one more game this season.

The Blue Devils (9-2) will host Avondale Westview (7-4), which defeated visiting Mountain View 35-7, in a second-round contest Friday night at Blue Devils Stadium. Kickoff is at 7.

"These kids are pretty focused right now. I am looking forward to next week," said Sanchez, whose ballclub lost in the second round last year to host Peoria Centennial 41-14.

The Sunnyside offense, spearheaded by Sammy Olivas, had too many weapons for Desert Ridge, which was making its first appearance in the state playoffs.

The senior signal-caller capped a 33-yard drive with a quarterback sneak from the 1-yard line to give the Blue Devils a 7-0 lead with four minutes left in the first quarter.

Olivas followed a 29-yard field goal from senior kicker Jesus Ortiz at the 5:45 mark of the second quarter with a 54-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Pat Medina with 1:45 remaining before the half.

"Sammy has come a long ways. He is doing a great job for us at quarterback," Sanchez said.

Olivas, a much stronger passer than last year, nailed Medina with a quick throw into the flat early in the fourth quarter that the speedster converted into a 59-yard touchdown. The play increased the Blue Devils' lead to 41-0.

"Patrick told me, 'I want the ball,' " said Olivas, who hit 10 of 16 throws for 231 yards. "I gave him a chance, and he made plays."

Sunnyside rushed for 288 yards and five touchdowns. Junior halfback Jovan Stevenson scored on runs of 25 and 19 yards in the third quarter. Halfbacks Marc Villacana and Marcus Laverty found paydirt on runs of 12 and 20 yards, respectively, in the fourth quarter.

Villacana, a reserve, led all rushers with 96 yards on 10 attempts.

Stevenson, who did not play on offense until a knee injury forced starter Manny Aguilar out of the game late in the second quarter, finished with 72 yards on eight carries.

"Our offensive line gives everything that they have for me. They blocked well," Stevenson said.