Sunnyside scores 79 in shutout

When the defending state champion meets a rebuilding team in high school football, the game can get ugly quickly.
That was the case last night at Sunnyside High School as the host Blue Devils pounded Nogales 79-0 in a Class 4A Sonoran matchup that was over before the first quarter ended.

"It got out of hand," Sunnyside coach Richard Sanchez said. "Our kids work hard, and that's the result."

Sunnyside, ranked No. 1 in the state, got on the board with a 7-yard run by Xavier Smith 1:43 into the game.

David Morales followed a few minutes later with a 16-yard scoring run.

Blue Devils quarterback Jaime Cota then connected on a 53-yard touchdown pass to Wally Altamirano, and Morales ran in another touchdown from 9 yards.

Add in a fumble return off a pitch for a score by Altamirano and an interception return for another TD by Aaron Garcia and the Blue Devils led 44-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Nogales (1-3, 0-1) had 6 yards in the first quarter in six possessions. Sunnyside (4-0, 1-0) had just nine offensive plays in the quarter.

By early in the second quarter, most of Sunnyside's starters had been pulled.

The Blue Devils' bench players helped outscore Nogales 35-0 the rest of the way.

Smith's little brother, junior Mike Smith, got considerable playing time as third-string halfback.

He had two second-quarter touchdowns and finished with 81 rushing yards.

After Sunnyside led 65-0 at halftime, the clock was run nonstop in the second half to bring the blowout to a quick close.