The Glendale Star

Cobras, Sunnyside make even matchup

For those who follow the 4A playoff seedings, there is no way Cactus and Sunnyside could have met in Saturday's state championship game.

But Cactus, the seventh seed, and Sunnyside, the No. 5 seed, proved they belong in the finals.

The two teams are the hottest in the state right now, Cactus having beat the second and third seeds in previous rounds, while Sunnyside knocked off No. 1 Chaparral last week, the Blue Devils' 11th straight victory.

"We know it's going to be a big game," Sunnyside coach Richard Sanchez said. "We know they're a quality team. They're well coached. They've got an outstanding quarterback, an outstanding defense and an outstanding tailback."

Sunnyside, a Tucson school that won the 4A title in 2001 and played for the championship the year before, struggled out of the gate this season, being outscored 76-24 in the first two games.

However, those games came against 5A power Salpointe and Chaparral.

Chaparral was Sunnyside's nemisis over the last four years, beating the Blue Devils for the 2000 championship and eliminating Sunnyside in the semifinals a year ago.

"Our guys just decided we were tired of losing against them," Sanchez said.

Chaparral entered last week's game averaging 55 points and had not scored less than 52 since mid-September.

Cactus also sports a high-powered offense, making that matchup perhaps the key to the game for both teams.

Each team sports a talented running back. Sunnyside junior Xavier Smith has rushed for more than 1,700 yards and 20 touchdowns this season. Cactus has been relying on Nigel Ricks and his 1,600 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Ricks has become a dangerous weapon receiving as well. The senior leads the team in receptions (46), yards (710) and touchdowns (four) and lines up a good part of the game as wide receiver.

Then again, varied formations are Cactus coach Larry Fetkenhier's forte. In his 20 years as the Cobras' coach, he has been one of the most innovative offensive coaches in the state. Yet, the Cobras are still searching for that elusive state championship.

"I get nervous before every game," said Fetkenhier, who led the Cobras to the state title game in 1985 and 1987 - both losses. "I think if you lose any part of that, it's time to get out."

While Cactus does not have a player with a state championship appearance, six players on Sunnyside's team do. Six seniors were on the 2001 team that won state and most of the coaching staff was around for both title game appearances.

"We've been there before," Sanchez said. "We're talking to them about what to expect and we've got the other players who have been there, talking to them about what we have to do."

This will be the first meeting between the schools.