Wally Altamirano scored one of two Sunnyside defensive TDs.

Sunnyside falls behind, then cruises

By Tyler Hansen
ARIZONA DAILY STAR

It took a mere 93 seconds for visiting underdog Flagstaff Coconino to score and take a lead against defending Class 4A state champion Sunnyside.

When Sunnyside senior Wally Altamirano was asked moments after the game if he and his teammates were worried Friday night, he made a facial expression as if to say, "are you kidding?"

The Blue Devils countered Coconino's early touchdown with a familiar dominance the rest of the way in a 47-6 victory in the first round of the 4A state tournament.

Despite 14th-seeded Coconino's inspired play at the outset, No. 3 Sunnyside turned to the same defensive prowess that has made it Southern Arizona's most successful program of the young century.

"It's what we're all about, playing defense like we're trying to get to the state championship again," said Altamirano, a defensive back and wide receiver. "We had to come out and hurt them when they were down."

The win came despite a second-quarter injury to Sunnyside standout quarterback Jaime Cota. He sprained his right ankle after a 49-yard run, which set up a field goal by Carlos Encinas and a 10-6 Blue Devils' lead.

Cota was helped off the field and spent the rest of the game as a spectator, but he was certain the injury would not keep him from further action.

"I'll be back next week," he said.

As it turned out, Sunnyside did not need Cota's services to stay on top of a Coconino team that never threatened after QB Will Campbell scored on a 74-yard run on the third play of the game.

The Panthers (8-3), with a number of capable athletes, still managed only 71 yards on the ground in the final 46 minutes.

"It was fun to jump out on top," Coconino coach George Moate said. "Our kids held on for a little while, but we just ran out of body parts."

Altamirano was part of a six-minute display of defensive brilliance in the second half that saw third-seeded Sunnyside score 16 points with its offense on the sideline.

After a safety that gave the Blue Devils a 26-6 lead with 4:58 remaining in the third quarter, Aaron Garcia helped thwart a fake punt attempt by Coconino in its end zone at the start of the fourth.

Campbell, also the punter, passed to Duke Bell just shy of the first down line, but Bell fumbled after being hit by a swarm of defenders. Garcia scooped the ball at the 3-yard line and waltzed in for the score.

Coconino's next offensive possession resulted in another fumble that Altamirano recovered and ran in for a 38-yard TD.

That gave Sunnyside a 40-6 lead with 10:37 remaining and punched its ticket into the second round for the sixth consecutive season.

"We all know that, from here on out, it's one and done," Sunnyside coach Richard Sanchez said. "We've been in these situations before, and we're playing our best defense at the time we need to be."