QB Olivas sharp in Devils' win streak

By JESSIE VANDERSON
Tucson Citizen

Sammy Olivas is making the most of a second chance.

The Sunnyside High senior quarterback has led the Blue Devils to three straight wins, with six touchdown passes, since regaining his starting position.

"We switched quarterbacks for a while because Sammy was struggling," said Glenn Posey, the offensive coordinator at Sunnyside. "His light bulb came on, and he got motivated. He really has been playing well these last couple of weeks."

 
Sunnyside (9-2) will need another sharp throwing performance from Olivas as it hosts Avondale Westview (7-4) in a Class 5A Division II second-round contest at 7 p.m. Friday.

The Knights rushed for 422 yards in a 35-19 defeat of visiting Mountain View in their first-round game last week.
Olivas, the incumbent starter after leading the Blue Devils to a 7-5 record and into the second round last year, was replaced by junior Jaime Valdez after struggling in a 14-7 loss to Sabino on Sept. 21.

"Being on the bench was real tough. This is my senior year," Olivas said. "They had me playing wide receiver. I got a shot back at quarterback and have never looked back."

He hit 6 of 13 throws for one TD and 147 yards against Mountain View in a 20-0 win Oct. 27, then was 8 of 14 for 165 yards and three TDs in the second half as Sunnyside beat Salpointe 22-20 for the 5A Southern Region title the next week.

"I really took to heart that I needed to improve the passing game,'' he said.

Senior wide receivers Patrick Medina and Anthony Aguilar have been Olivas' favorite targets. Aguilar, a possession receiver, caught all three of Olivas' TD throws against Salpointe.

Medina, the 5A Southern Region track champ in the 200 meters, is the team's deep threat. He scored on passes from Olivas of 54 and 59 yards in a 54-14 route of visiting Mesa Desert Ridge in a first-round game Friday. Olivas completed 10 of 16 throws for 231 yards.

The success of the passing game has opened up the running game, led by Jovan Stevenson.

"Sammy has matured, and we are on the same page with him, " Medina said.