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Mike Rynearson/ The Arizona Republic
Cactus High receiver Kevin Marin gets wrapped up by Sunnyside defensive back Wally Altamirano after a short gain , in the 4th quarter of play in State 4A Championship Finals action, at Sun Devil Stadium, on Dec. 6, 2003.

Sunnyside defense cools off Cactus


Goal-line stands save Blue Devils

Brian Gomez
Special for The Arizona Republic
Dec. 7, 2003 12:00 AM


It took almost two quarters for success to take shape, but Tucson Sunnyside made enough defensive adjustments Saturday to transform an explosive Glendale Cactus offense into an ordinary operation.

Although Cactus senior quarterback Bubba Bradley had his moments at Sun Devil Stadium, Sunnyside's changing blitzes and swarming defense spoiled the celebration party for one of the state's most versatile players as Sunnyside captured the 4A state title by defeating Cactus 21-13.

The tide didn't turn until the third quarter, long after Sunnyside had solved Cactus' no-huddle offense and spread packages, some of which featured as many as four wide receivers.

Sunnyside used a pair of goal-line stands to nurse a slim lead for most of the second half, then relied on its tired defense and the clock to stop Cactus on the game's final drive.

"It was just a matter of time before our kids would settle down and figure out what they were trying to do to us," said Sunnyside coach Richard Sanchez, whose team sacked Bradley four times. "We were ready for the no huddle. We just weren't ready for them putting all the receivers on one side."

Early Saturday, Cactus boasted the type of offense that it relied on to average 38 points in its previous 13 games. The Cobras scored on their first two possessions, totaling nine first downs and 129 yards to claim a 10-0 lead with 10:28 left in the second quarter.

That's when Sunnyside's defense found its ground, even with its back against the wall after senior Mike Villalobos was intercepted by senior defensive back Nick Childs deep in Cactus territory.

Cactus went three and out on its first possession after the turnover, and was held scoreless on its last drive of the first half when Bradley pushed a 50-yard field goal wide left.

Playing with the lead in the third quarter, Sunnyside rediscovered the aggressiveness on defense that was present last week in its upset of Scottsdale Chaparral. The Blue Devils twice kept Cactus out of the end zone after Bradley had guided his team inside the Sunnyside 5.

The first stop came late in the third quarter, when Bradley was tackled short of the goal line by junior linebacker Xavier Smith. 

Cactus faced a first and goal at the Sunnyside 9 on its next possession, but settled for a field goal after going nowhere in three plays.

"Our coach told us from the sideline that if we wanted to win, we had to stop them there," Sunnyside senior linebacker Zack Samorano said. "It just came down to who wanted it most at the goal line, who was willing to fight for that extra yardage."