A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star

Lofty goal: Senior quarterback Jaime Cota is one of several returning players - and a coach - hoping to lead Sunnyside to an undefeated record and a second straight state title.

Blue Devils aim for perfection

By Chris Davis
ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Two state championships in three seasons.

It could be easy to bask in the glorious rays of triumph, but at Sunnyside there is only one response to winning.

Tighten the screws - if that is possible - and win more trophies.

"Our expectations are very high," Sunnyside coach Richard Sanchez said. "We don't want (the players) to play at the same level they did last year. If they can't perform, then they're going to be replaced.

"There might be some guys who were stars last year and played in the championship game who won't be playing."

If that does not raise a few eyebrows in the Class 4A Sonoran Region, it is difficult to say what would.

But the pressure surrounding the players can be a good thing, says Jesus Acuna.

"There's a need for it in order to perform," said Acuna, a senior lineman. "If pressure is going to cause the team to work harder and cause players to excel, then yeah, I like pressure."

The Blue Devils have been in this position before. After winning their first state championship in 2001, the program found out what it was like to be not just the team to beat in Southern Arizona, but in the state.

In 2002, Sunnyside won its first 12 games but ran into Scottsdale Chaparral in the state semifinals and was eliminated from the state playoffs.

It was the first time since 1999 the Devils did not reach the championship game, and Sanchez says a lot from 2002 can be applied to this season's squad.

"Around here if we don't win, we don't feel like we've gotten the job done," Sanchez said. "These kids are constantly reminded of the 2002 season because there were some things that happened that probably prevented us from going back to Sun Devil Stadium" for the title game.

Quite possibly the biggest, said the 12th-year coach, is humility.

"We got back Saturday night (after winning state last season), and in the locker room I said, 'You guys need to be humble,'" Sanchez said. "We need to come back and do it again, and if we're not humble it's going to bite us … "

As usual, there will be plenty of talent to support the team's quest for a second straight state crown.

Two players who grabbed most of the headlines last season were running back Xavier Smith and quarterback Jaime Cota.

Smith rushed for 1,871 yards and 23 touchdowns. And although he still will grab plenty of handoffs this season, Sanchez said, Smith has been preparing to play linebacker.

"'X' is going to play more defense this year," Sanchez said. "He spent the summer playing there and he'll see time."

Talk surrounding the team is about depth and talent on both sides of the line, however.

"We have a good line this year," junior Jose Luis Lopez said. "We have to replace our center from last year, but we've been working, and it's under control."

Sanchez uses the first three games of the season to play top-shelf competition. He has always said it gives him an idea of where his players should play and is a measuring stick of what they will face in the postseason.

Nothing will change in that area, as the Blue Devils travel to Salpointe Catholic, host Chaparral and play at Goodyear Millennium to open 2004. All three made the playoffs last season.

With so many returners from last year though, Sunnyside is looking to improve on its 1-2 start last year.

"We've won a state championship but have never gone undefeated," Sanchez said. "That's what we're shooting for now. We want an undefeated state championship season."