2024 High School Football

Frog & Firkin Football Notebook: Sunnyside resilient in opening loss to Glendale Apollo

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Sunnyside High School rallied from an early 13-0 deficit before falling short to Glendale Apollo 27-20 at home on Friday (Javier Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)

Sunnyside High School’s football program has not experienced anything close to normal over the last few years, starting with the 2020 season impacted by COVID-19.

The Blue Devils played through the 2021 season on eggshells trying to avoid cancellations from COVID-19. Their coach and former standout receiver Glenn Posey abruptly resigned after that season following the passing of his father. They did not play a game at home in 2022 because of the installation of the new turf field. They took some time to adjust last season playing their first three games on the road.

Sunnyside’s first game at home to open a season since 2021 occurred Friday night and the Blue Devils lost a tight struggle, 27-20, after falling behind 13-0 against Glendale Apollo, in front of a packed home side of the stadium.

“I think that first half we were so eyes-wide-open, adrenaline running and all that,” Romack said of the slow early adjustment. “Our guys fought back and handled adversity well.”

The Blue Devils have now lost four straight games at home to start a season (the loss to Apollo on Friday night, 29-21 against Desert View in 2021, 69-27 against Ironwood Ridge in 2020 and 37-0 against Campo Verde in 2018).

The last time Sunnyside has won a season opener at home was in 2017, a 36-16 victory over Nogales.

Although the Blue Devils have started 0-1, many positives can be taken from the loss to Apollo, which defeated Sunnyside 28-3 in the opener last season at Glendale.

The Blue Devils rallied from the 13-point deficit after Apollo scored touchdowns on its first two possessions. The Hawks were 3 of 3 on third-down conversions and converted on a fourth-down play in those two series.

After Apollo’s second touchdown, Sunnyside drove from its 20 all the way to the Hawks’ 1 but failed to punch it into the end zone.

Apollo is reloading after three of its players committed to Arizona and previous coach Jedd Fisch last season. Two of them — running back Adam Mohammed and offensive tackle Michael Levelle Watkins — followed Fisch to Washington. Offensive tackle Matthew Lado opted to stay with Brent Brennan and the Wildcats.

Apollo had a three-and-out, stalling at its 10, after Sunnyside came up short at the 1-yard line.

Two plays after the Blue Devils gained possession at the Glendale 33 following a 23-yard punt, Sunnyside’s Aaron Fontes broke free for a 31-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 13-7 with 7:18 left in the second quarter.

From that moment, Sunnyside played Apollo tough possession to possession.

“We pride ourselves on our character and I think that showed tonight,” Romack said. “Down 13-0 really fast to a (5A) semifinalist team our guys battled back and were able to make adjustments and tied them going into the half.”

Sunnyside tied the game at 13 on its next possession, capped by a 32-yard touchdown strike from Raymond Duarte to Gio Leyva with 30 seconds to spare before halftime.

Duarte, thrusted into a starter role midway through last season, was impressive on Friday night, completing 10 of 15 pass attempts for 192 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Leyva caught three passes for 89 yards and a touchdown and Ramon Siqueiros Jr. had five receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown.

Fontes rushed for 68 yards on nine carries.

Sunnyside was forced to punt following its first two possessions of the second half.

A significant moment in the game came after Apollo took a 20-13 lead and drove from its own 6-yard line to Sunnyside’s 12, taking more than 6 minutes off the clock only for a 29-yard field goal attempt to be off the mark.

Duarte hit Siqueiros with a 44-yard touchdown pass with 3:39 left to tie the game at 20.

After the Blue Devil defense forced a three-and-out, Apollo’s punt went only 14 yards to its 39-yard line.

Sunnyside had a fourth-and-1 situation at the 30 and tried for the first down but Duarte was stopped short on a quaterback sneak up the middle.

Apollo struck fast with a 70-yard TD pass from Sylus Stevenson to Isaiah White on the next play. White broke a tackle on a quick read and sprinted to the end zone with 30 seconds remaining.

On the ensuing kickoff, Leyva found a crease along the sidelines and sprinted 95 yards for what appeared to be a potential game-tying touchdown but a holding penalty was called.

Sunnyside couldn’t move the ball in three plays after starting its last possession at its own 14 with 16 seconds remaining.

“At the end of the day, they made one more play than we did,” Romack said. “Can’t blame one play. That’s the biggest thing for our guys. Come in tomorrow and watch film, make adjustments and get better.

“I believe our seniors are going to fix it and they’re going to lead this team. Our two state championship teams (in 2001 and 2003) started 0-2. I have complete faith and it showed tonight that our guys can handle adversity and battle back.”

The Blue Devils will host Flowing Wells (1-0) on Friday for an early-season homecoming game. The Caballeros are coming off a 41-0 win over visiting Agua Fria.

SOUTHERN ARIZONA STRONG

Southern Arizona schools were 15-12 against opponents outside the region Friday night with some very notable victories:

  • Sahuarita coming off an 0-10 season to beat visiting Phoenix Alhambra 43-6 in the dawn of the Jake Allen era
  • Desert Christian routing Phoenix Desert Heights Prep 42-20 in the first home game of its existence in football
  • Cienega, a 5A school, beating visiting 6A Phoenix Desert Vista 42-35
  • Tucson High traveling to Phoenix South Mountain and winning 52-20 to increase its winning streak to five games extending to last season.
  • Buena going to Laveen Village to lambaste Fairfax 68-19
  • Flowing Wells sending a statement with a 41-0 rout of visiting Avondale Agua Fria
  • Mountain View outlasting visiting Gilbert 23-21
  • Amphitheater routing old-time rival Phoenix Maryvale 43-8 at home.
  • Rio Rico going on the road and surprising Maricopa Desert Sunrise 27-20
  • Rincon/University starting 1-0 under new coach Johnny Chan with an 18-16 win over visiting Phoenix Washington
  • Pusch Ridge pummeling Show Low 42-3 at Show Low
  • Bisbee routing host Phoenix Madison Highland Academy 67-7

DESERT CHRISTIAN MAKES HISTORY

Report from AllSportsTucson.com’s Andy Morales:

The City of Tucson hasn’t seen an eight-man football team since St. Augustine and Arizona State School for the Deaf and the Blind (ASDB) joined forces in 2009 but that changed Friday night when Desert Christian beat Desert Heights 42-20 in the first football game in program history.

Known as a fall soccer power, the Eagles fulfilled a dream to build a football program and that meant shifting soccer to winter and building a sports complex to support several sports including football. The school acquired a huge city lot that was located adjacent to school and it features an artificial turf stadium, a softball field and pickleball courts. The plan was to host the first game there Friday night but the city occupancy permitting process was not complete in time which meant opening up the program at it’s K-8 campus where the baseball team plays.

Lights were brought in, the outfield was painted and the fans sat in lawn chairs, but it didn’t matter, football was here. The referees kept the game clock on the field due to the lack of a clock on the baseball scoreboard and Desert Heights went up 8-0 after junior quarterback Mason Wicker hit freshman Justus Grabarec from seven yards out with a two-point conversion added midway through the first quarter. Kendrick Felix is a respected basketball and track and field coach at Copper Canyon and the longtime football coach ushered in a new era when the Coyotes joined the AIA in 2020.

The Eagles struggled in their first possession but junior QB Cooper Payne ripped off a 69-yard run up the left and he added two more points to tie the game up at 8-8. Josh Orozco put Desert Heights back up 14-8 on a five-yard run as the first quarter expired but Payne hit Rowan Carter from 18 yards out to tie the game at 14-14 and he found Tyson Dobbins for two to give the Eagles a 16-14 lead.

Desert Christian is led by former Sahuarita player Jason McKibben and this is his first time on the sidelines. His team had to forfeit a trip to Bagdad last week and he will follow up this win with a bye week to get healthy because he lost the services of Payne to an ankle injury after Payne put the team up 22-14 at the half and 30-20 near the end of the third quarter. Desert Heights cut into the lead with a 77-yard kickoff return by Orozco to start the second half but interceptions and a few sacks took the Coyotes out of rhythm the rest of the way.

McKibben turned to transfer student Bryant Devitt under center and he guided the Eagles to a 36-20 lead on a 17-yard pass to Dobbins and Ethan Craig scooped up a fumble and he dashed 30 yards to make it 42-20. Coyote freshman Mason Gervais also saw time at the QB position.

Payne threw for 95 yards with a TD and he rushed for 150 more with three TDs. Payne also picked up an interception from his defense position as did his younger brother Brock Payne when the Coyotes were about to cut into the lead at the one. Dobbins finished with 77 yards with a TD on four catches and Devitt threw for 62 yards with a score. Grabarec also picked up an interception.

Wicker threw for 88 yards and a score and Bryce Godfrey had 56 reception yards.

Desert Heights beat Valley Union 40-36 last week to go 1-1 on the year and the team hosts Cicero Prep (0-2) next week.

Desert Christian (1-1) will enjoy a bye week before traveling to Maryvale Prep (0-1) on Sept. 13.

FRIDAY’S FINAL SCORES

5A Marana 27, 6A Salpointe 24
5A Apollo 27, 5A Sunnyside 20
4A Mica Mountain 17, 4A Poston Butte 8
4A NW Christian 21, 4A Walden Grove 16
4A Eastmark 12, 4A CDO 3
4A Sahuarita 43, 4A Alhambra 6
4A Sahuaro 15, 3A Sabino 14
1A Desert Christian 42, 1A Desert Heights Prep 20
5A Cienega 42, 6A Desert Vista 35
5A Tucson 52, 5A South Mountain 20
5A Buena 68, 5A Fairfax 19
5A Flowing Wells 41, 5A Agua Fria 0
5A Mountain View 23, 5A Gilbert 21
5A Willow Canyon 48, 5A Desert View 35
4A Amphitheater 43, 4A Maryvale 8
4A Rio Rico 27, 4A Desert Sunrise 20
4A Rincon/UHS 18, 4A Washington 16
3A ALA Ironwood 52, 4A Douglas 21
3A Pusch Ridge 42, 3A Show Low 3
3A Thatcher 15, 3A Crismon 0
3A Morenci 6, 3A Round Valley 3
2A Heritage Academy 7, 2A Tombstone 6
2A Phoenix Christian 22, 2A Benson 20
2A NFL Yet 17, 2A Catalina 8
2A Bisbee 67, 2A Madison Highland 7
2A Antelope 35, 2A Palo Verde 6
2A Tonopah Valley 65, 2A Willcox 20
2A Globe 37, 2A Santa Rita 0
1A Ray 32, 1A San Manuel 12

FOLLOW @JAVIERJMORALES ON TWITTER!

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 in 2016 and is presently a special education teacher at Sunnyside High School in the Sunnyside Unified School District.

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