Devils pass by IR

Sunnyside QB throws for 318 yards, four TDs

MICHAEL CACCAMISE
Tucson Citizen

Jaime Cota is back in form.

The quarterback from Sunnyside High School picked apart Ironwood Ridge's secondary last night in the Tucson Citizen Spotlight Game, propelling the unbeaten Blue Devils to a 49-7 win.

Cota, a senior who had seen limited playing time the past few weeks due to a knee injury, threw for 318 yards and four touchdowns and ran 1 yard for another score.

He completed 22 of 26 passes.

"I got in a rhythm," Cota said. "Ironwood's a great team. But we just went out and played our game, and once we get in our game it's hard to stop us."

The win put Sunnyside at 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the 4A Sonoran Region. Ironwood fell to 4-1 and 6-2.

Ironwood Ridge put up 300 total yards, but that didn't translate into points.

Cota's TD passes went to four receivers - Anthony Duarte, David Morales, Nathan Vega and George Garza.

Garza had nine catches for 121 yards. Vega hauled in five passes for 46.

Vega also had another touchdown catch, a 7-yard pass from Anthony Duarte with 3:18 left. That and other late scores touched a nerve with Ironwood coach Gary Minor.

VAL CAÑEZ/Tucson Citizen

Ironwood Ridge's Josh Snider (right) can't stop Sunnyside High School's George Garza from collecting a 17-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter of last night's 49-7 Sunnyside victory. Garza finished with nine catches for 121 yards.

"They kept it up, kept it up and kept it up until the game was well out of hand. Then they kept it up more," Minor said.

Sunnyside's starters hadn't played full games due to blowouts, and coach Richard Sanchez said he was trying to get them ready for state.

"We've got to get our kids in playoff shape. They've got to be able to play," Sanchez said. "They didn't pull their (starters), so we kept ours in. It was a good opportunity for our starters to play against a good team."

The game featured two future University of Arizona players, Ironwood lineman Daniel Borg and Sunnyside running back Xavier Smith.

Borg played well, often steamrollering Sunnyside players. Smith ran for 110 yards in the first half on nine carries. He didn't play in the second half due to a minor ankle injury, but Sanchez said Smith was fine, and there was no reason to risk anything.