SALPOINTE 17, SUNNYSIDE 9
Salpointe continues hot start with win over Sunnyside
ASH FRIEDERICH
Tucson Citizen

Last year at this time, the Salpointe Catholic High School football team was in a tailspin.

This year, the Lancers' altimeter is still rising.

Christian Ramirez, facing Sunnyside for the first time, scored two touchdowns to help visiting Salpointe (4-0) win 17-9 against its crosstown rival.

The Lancers broke up three passes at the goal line on Sunnyside's final drive to preserve the victory.

"It was a very physical and grinding game," Ramirez said. "This is the first time I've played them. I just wanted revenge on them for last year. I wasn't sure what to expect, but we knew (Sunnyside) had some weaknesses in the linebackers.

"I was getting frustrated because I kept being one break away from the (end zone), but I'll take what I can get."

Ramirez watched from the sidelines with a pulled hamstring last year as visiting Sunnyside dominated in a 17-0 win that sent Salpointe to a 1-4 record.

Friday, Ramirez gave the Lancers some breathing room when he scored from 2 yards out with 11 minutes left in the game to put Salpointe up 17-6.

"I could tell they were expecting me to get the ball," said Ramirez, who racked up 117 yards on 28 carries. "I did a little improv and took a little juke step to the left to get them to over pursuit and it worked well for me, and I had a nice hole on the other side."

Sunnyside (2-2) had a hard time getting anything going, but did jump out to an early 3-0 lead on Hector Solis' 27-yard field goal that capped a 13-play drive.

During the drive Sunnyside quarterback Jesus Vega connected with Brandon Vaughn on a 15-yard pass to set up the Blue Devils at Salpointe's 14-yard line.

"We were ready mentally and everything was good," said Vega, who connected on 11 of 26 passes for 133 yards. "We just didn't come through at crunch time.

"We needed to put together some solid drives and failed."

Salpointe's defense held Sunnyside's offense to three field goals.

The Lancers outgained the Blue Devils 292-203.

"They threw a little more than we expected, especially in the second half," Lancers defensive back Chase Gallagher said. "They used Manny (Aguilar) as a workhorse and we were trying to help the linebackers and defensive line by filling in the holes . . . It's good to get revenge against them."