SUNNYSIDE 42, PHOENIX CENTRAL 0
Sunnyside scores at will, holds Phoenix squad to 18 yards
STEPHEN SHARPTON
Tucson Citizen

With Salpointe Catholic waiting in the wings, the Sunnyside High School football team needed to take care of business against the undermanned Phoenix Central Bobcats.

Everyone on the roster played as the Blue Devils won 42-0, getting a final tuneup before what is typically the city's top rivalry. Salpointe will play at Sunnyside at 7 p.m. Friday.

Against Central, five players scored touchdowns for Sunnyside, which had 176 yards passing and 176 rushing. After the Blue Devils reached 42 points in the third quarter, the officials did not stop the clock.

Sunnyside (2-1) has rebounded after its opening-season loss to Glendale Mountain Ridge, but coach Richard Sanchez and his staff will hit the film room for the matchup with Salpointe.

"Next week is a whole different ballgame," Sanchez said. "(Saturday) we get to watch film and see what Salpointe is doing and see if we can stop their offense and put some points on the board."

The Blue Devils' defense gave up 18 yards to Central.

Sunnyside was led by backup tailback Alfred Leon, who put up the first points of the game in the first quarter with an 18-yard scamper.

Leon reached the end zone again in the second quarter on a 12-yard run.

Both touchdowns resulted from instinctive running in the flats by Leon and good blocking by his receivers.

"We didn't come out too fired up to play, and that all changed in the second half," Leon said. "I read (the defense) and I trust my receivers; they had some good blocks. I just followed them and all you have to do is just trust your guys."

Leon finished with 77 yards, filling in nicely for starter Manny Aguilar, who needed stitches on his finger after being cut in the first quarter.

Sunnyside quarterback Jesus Vega threw touchdown strikes of 26 yards to Brandon Vaughn and 10 yards to Billy Gonzales.