Sunnyside 42, Pueblo 13
by Andy Morales on Sep. 21, 2012, under Sports
Isaiah Clayton had 122 yards receiving for Pueblo. Andy Morales Photos.
Sunnyside (3-2) is clinging to a playoff spot according to the AIA/MaxPreps seedings. According to the playoff rules spelled out by MaxPreps, the Blue Devils would receive the seventh and last Division I at-large bid if the season ended yesterday.
It is uncertain how their 42-13 victory at D-II Pueblo (2-3) Friday night will change their status since the next round of seedings will not be released until next week.
Pueblo began the first leg of what will be a very difficult second half of the season for them. They have to play Buena, at Cienega, Sahuarita and at Nogales. Only a game at Douglas looks to be a break they might catch.
It looked like the Warriors might catch that break against Sunnyside after they held the Blue Devils to 17 yards of offense in the first quarter while racking up 75 of their own but they squandered an early turnover opportunity and gave the ball back on downs after another promising drive.
Sunnyside took the ball to start the game but they fumbled it away five plays in. Javier LaMadrid recovered the ball for Pueblo at Sunnyside’s 37 yard line but they fumbled it right back after Richard Gastelo hit Isaiah Clayton on an 18-yard strike to set them up deeper in Blue Devil territory.
Sunnyside was forced to punt and Pueblo drove back down to the 30 after an 11-play drive that stalled on downs. Sunnyside punted again but Pueblo was forced to punt also to end the quarter.
In a flash, Sunnyside turned the tide on a 62-yard scoring run up the middle by Dominic Martinez four plays later. Pueblo was stopped again and the Blue Devils scored again on a 38-yard dash by Rene Solano to go up 14-0.
Izzy Calvillo picked off a tipped pass two plays later and Sunnyside was on the move again with 2:06 left in the half.
Christian Oropeza ran it in from the 1 yard line several plays later and Sunnyside went into the locker room up 21-0.
Sunnyside out-gained Pueblo 161 to 34 in the second quarter as the momentum had shifted completely to the Blue Devil sideline.
Sunnyside attempted to build on their fortune and tried an onside kick to start the second half but Pueblo recovered the ball at midfield and Gastelo hit Clayton on a 43-yard pass to cut the lead down to 21-7.
With 10:39 left in the third quarter, it looked like the game was in reach for Pueblo but Sunnyside went on a 7 minute scoring drive that was capped by an 18-yard pass from Oropeza to Aurelio Gonzalez.
Down 28-7 Pueblo needed another break and they got it after Sunnyside muffed a punt by Pueblo kicker Daniel Avila. Avila was hurt on the play on a roughing the kicker call but the penalty was refused as the Warriors got the ball in good position after the turnover.
Jorge Romero scored on 26-yard dash to the outside to cut the score down to 28-13 but the kick failed as Avila attempted the extra point on an injured leg.
Avila attempted to kickoff but the result was a short kick that missed the coverage and it was returned all the way back to Pueblo’s 34.
Martinez ran it in on the next play and Sunnyside was back up 35-13 with 10:06 left in the game.
Pueblo gave the ball back on downs and Sammy Moreno scored on a 13-yard run to provide the final 42-13 margin.
It was a night of missed opportunities for Pueblo early but they also came up with some big numbers after Clayton finished the game with 122 receiving yards on 6 catches. The Warriors also combined for 155 yards rushing with Romero leading the way with 55 yards on 7 carries.
Gastelo had 51 yards on 7 carries and Vincent Palma had 44 on 12 carries. Gastelo had 127 yards passing.
For Sunnyside, Oropeza had 74 yards passing with Gonzalez receiving 64 of those.
Martinez gained 119 yards on 9 carries and Solano had 111 on 16 carries. Moreno added 56 yards rushing. The early 17 yards of offense had ballooned to 387 by game’s end.
Sunnyside hosts Santa Rita (2-3) next Friday and Pueblo hosts Buena (3-2).
