FOOTBALL GAME OF THE WEEK: GLENDALE MOUNTAIN RIDGE AT SUNNYSIDE
Devils not blue about being green
By Casey Crowe
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 09.05.2008

Unproven and inexperienced, but richly talented and unafraid, the Sunnyside Blue Devils, perennial state contenders in the 5A-II, are all of the above entering their season opener at home against Glendale Mountain Ridge at 7 tonight.

After watching as many standout players graduate last May as any high school in Southern Arizona, the Blue Devils' former reinforcements — the second-stringers last year — are now in the spotlight.

"Yes, we lost the star players, but overall, we have far more good players all over the field than last year," said coach Richard Sanchez. "I think that this team has a chance to be better than what we had then, even without those guys.
They're ready for their shot."

Sunnyside scored 14 unanswered points in the second half against Mountain Ridge a year ago en route to a thrilling 21-20 victory in Glendale.

But this is not the same Sunnyside crew that pulled off that comeback — against a then playoff-bound Mountain Ridge team — on the way to a top-four finish in the state tournament.

Gone is star running back-wide receiver-defensive back Jovan Stevenson, who rushed for 1,530 yards and caught 28 passes for 648 yards. He also scored 26 touchdowns.

The anchor of the Blue Devils' offensive and defensive lines, 5A all-state selection Hugo Blanco, used up the last of his eligibility last winter.

And the program's ever-efficient signal caller, Jaime Valdez, who threw 18 touchdowns against just six interceptions, also is no longer around.

Sunnyside made it to the state semifinals with Stevenson, Blanco and Valdez in charge in 2007.

And that same nucleus led the Blue Devils to a state runner-up finish in 2006.

The pressure to fill those three roles now will fall on these relative unknowns:

● Manny Aguilar, RB/LB, Sr.: Aguilar was solid as Stevenson's main backup at the running back slot last year, rolling off 352 yards on 54 carries (6.5 yards per carry) and four touchdowns, despite missing several games because of injury.
He is the man now in the Blue Devils' backfield, and needs to be an all-city caliber rusher for Sunnyside to take back the region.

● Jorge Mazon, OL/DL, Sr.: Blanco was instrumental in Sunnyside's gaudy 21-5 record over the last two seasons. The Blue Devils piled up well over 2,500 yards rushing as a team last year, often behind him. Mazon is now the centerpiece of the line, and must transform into a Blanco-like bulldozer.

● Jesus Vega, QB/P, Sr.: In his first year at Sunnyside, Vega, a senior transfer from Cholla, is taking over as the Blue Devils' quarterback, and Sanchez said the early results from the 5-foot-8-inch, 180-pounder have left a good impression.

"Vega picked things up quickly, and already knows what he's doing. From what I've seen so far, he is going to give us exactly what's needed," said Sanchez. "He's one of the most competitive players on this team. You want that from a quarterback."