(Tucson, AZ) Fernando Galvan
High School football on the Southside of Tucson has always been a little bit different on Friday nights. Instead of hamburgers and hotdogs, you get carne asada and burritos for game snacks.
This Friday the Sunnyside Blue Devils and Pueblo Warriors high school will meet in what is expected to be a highly competitive matchup between the two Southside schools.
Both of these schools have been viewed as the perennial schools on this side of town. They produced athletic greats like basketball player Lafayette “Fat” Lever from Pueblo and David Adams NFL running back from Sunnyside.
Adding to the intensity of this is game the fact that so many players have not only competed against each other before. Many have been teammates at some other time.
Pueblo Head Coach Brandon Sanders is well aware of the connection some of his players have with the Sunnyside Program.
“Number one, Jackson Robert Jackson started his freshman playing over there, and ever since he transferred over here they’ve been talking trash,“ Sanders said.
Across the white lines Sunnyside’s Head Coach Roy Lopez say his players are well aware of the rivalry and looking forward to the challenge
“They are excited and really self-motivated because they snuck up on us last year right at the end of the game,” Lopez said. “They can have fun with who they are playing against and in some aspects its gives them confidence. They know they can be successful against this group.”
However, Lopez is aware that there can be a down side to this kind of familiarity.
“They can be really focused and they can be distracted by something a couple years ago that happened between the Rams and the Raiders, and the Redskins and whatever other teams they’ve played for,” Lopez commented.
Pueblo has gotten off to a disappointing 1-2 start this season but Sanders is well aware of what he and his players need to do in order to turn things around and get on the right track.
“You haven’t gained your respect, it doesn’t matter what we’ve done in the past. If we’re not doing everything we can to be the best we can be, nobody’s is going to respect us.” Sanders added, “Until we’ve done it over and over again, until you’ve rolled off a number of wins on them and show them this is who we are it doesn’t matter.”
Sunnyside rebounded from a week one loss to Campo Verde and rattled off back-to-back wins, including a 56-6 over Rincon last week. Lopez likes what he sees but knows the season is just getting started.
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“I think we are right where we need to be and the next two weeks will tell us where we really are,” Lopez said.
Sunnyside and Pueblo played against each other last year with the Warriors edged out a 7-6 win over the Blue Devils.
It is this fact that both coaches believe their upper-class men will be ready to deliver strong performances for their individual squads.
For the Sunnyside Blue Devils Coach Lopez believes Jonathan Lopez, Willie Rose, Johnathon Lopez, and Maritn Arvizu will be key for the Blue Devils offense to be successful.
On the defensive side of the ball look for Adrian Manreal, Jacob Torres, and Isias Hernandez will be pivotal in keeping the Warriors offense in check.
For Pueblo look to Ruben Rivera IV to play a big role on both sides of the ball. Rivera IV was ranked the 14th best player in Southern Arizona by Arizona Daily Star this preseason.
Coach Sanders also thinks the home crowd can expect big things from
In the end Coach Lopez believes this game will come down to some very simple things for his team.
“It just having discipline, playing our style of football, and not getting suckered into anything else. Playing fast, physical and disciplined defense and we’re going to be pretty darn good,” Lopez said.
The game is scheduled for Friday night at Pueblo with a 7 pm kickoff.
