5A SOUTHERN — SUNNYSIDE BLUE DEVILS
2022 record: 7-3 overall, 4-1 in 5A Sonoran (second)
2023 record: 0-1 overall
Head coach: Thomas Romack, 7-4, second year at Sunnyside and overall.
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Key returners:
- RB/LB Jordan Barron, 5-6, 165, Jr.
- RB/SB Samario Garcia, 5-9, 143, Sr.
- WR/DB Anthony Martinez, 6-1, 150, Sr.
- LB/RB Victor Gonzalez, 5-11, 190, Sr.
- LB Anthany Dominguez, 5-9, 180, Sr.
- DB Antonio Ochoa, 6-0, 150, Jr.
- LB Alex Yourgulez
- PK Mike Vasquez, 6-0, 200, Sr.
SUNNYSIDE COACH THOMAS ROMACK
SUNNYSIDE RB/SB SAMARIO GARCIA
SUNNYSIDE LB/RB VICTOR GONZALEZ
Notes: Thomas Romack took over the Sunnyside program before last season for Glenn Posey, who announced a retirement from coaching shortly after his father passed away. Romack was the defensive coordinator for Sunnyside beginning in the 2019 season. A 2013 graduate of Buena High School, Romack was a standout at linebacker for the Colts who went on to play for Pima College in 2013 and 2014 before playing at Dakota State in 2015 and 2016. … RB/SB Samario Garcia was a member of the 14U TYFSF All-Star Team that played for Bam McRae in the national championship game in 2019. … RB/LB Victor Gonzalez had eight tackles, including a sack, in Sunnyside’s season-opening 28-3 loss at Glendale Apollo. He compiled 106 tackles, including nine for loss, last season. He had two sacks and a fumble recovery. He also caused four fumbles. Gonzalez had seven games in which he recorded double-digit tackles. Coaches selected Gonzalez the 5A Sonoran Defensive Player of the Year. Also an accomplished wrestler at Sunnyside. … Sunnyside has played 12 consecutive games away from its home field dating to the 2021 season because of delays installing new turf last year. The Blue Devils will play two more games on the road against Flowing Wells and Kellis before finally playing at home Sept. 15 against Mica Mountain. It will end a 686-day span between home games for the Blue Devils. … PK Mike Vasquez made a 50-yarder at Apollo. He is a standout goalie with Sunnyside’s soccer team.
Keep an eye out for: QB Raymond Duarte, a sophomore. Duarte is Sunnyside’s first new quarterback in five years after Deion Conde played four consecutive varsity seasons and accumulated 4,761 passing yards with 60 touchdowns. Playing only one game in 2020 because of COVID-19 restrictions prevented Conde from eclipsing 5,000 career passing yards. … Duarte is slowly getting acclimated to Romack’s offense, completing 8 of 14 passes against Apollo for 77 yards.
21. SUNNYSIDE (3-3, 1-0)
Head coach: Thomas RomackBlue Devils compete in the 5A Southern. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/25 | at Apollo | L, 28-3 | 0-1 | 0-0 |
| 9/1 | at Flowing Wells | W, 28-10 | 1-1 | 0-0 |
| 9/8 | at Raymond S. Kellis | L, 21-7 | 1-2 | 0-0 |
| 9/15 | Mica Mountain* | L, 35-7 | 1-3 | 0-0 |
| 9/22 | Nogales* | W, 43-6 | 2-3 | 0-0 |
| 10/6 | Marana* | W, 17-6 | 3-3 | 1-0 |
| 10/13 | Cienega* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/20 | at Casa Grande* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/27 | Buena* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/3 | at Desert View* | -- | -- | -- |
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon. He became an educator five years ago and is presently a special education teacher at Sunnyside High School in the Sunnyside Unified School District
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