When Peoria's Sunrise Mountain took a knee to end the game Friday, upsetting Sahuarita 62-21 in the first round of the Division III playoffs, the harsh reality that an undefeated regular season does not guarantee postseason success set in over a stunned crowd at Sahuarita.
Sunrise Mountain (9-3) negated one of the Mustangs' greatest strengths, its kickoff return ability, by kicking only onside kicks.
Of the 10 onside kicks by Sunrise Mountain, four were recovered.
Despite the occasional excellent field position, Sahuarita was unable to consistently capitalize. The Mustangs (10-1) gained only 20 rushing yards on the night.
One player that Sahuarita had no answer for defensively was Sunrise Mountain running back Elijah Castro who had scoring runs of 16, 20 and 1. He also had touchdown receptions of 46 and 48 yards.
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Coach David Rodriguez said Castro was "a stick of dynamite. We have to do a better job of playing against players like that on a bigger stage."
The Mustangs capitalized on a Sunrise Mountain miscue in the second quarter when linebacker Olen Brown ran back a fumble for 50 yards, which set up a Chris Snodgrass' rushing touchdown from 3 yards out.
However, Sunrise Mountain quickly responded on the ensuing drive with a 79-yard rush that set up a 1-yard Castro touchdown.
Sunrise Mountain's offensive line (average weight 265 pounds) generated a tremendous surge against a much smaller defensive line (average weight of 215 pounds) for 405 yards in the first half.
Due to a methodical running game and a successful onside kick by Sunrise Mountain in the third quarter, the Mustangs did not touch the ball on offense until 50 seconds were left in the quarter.
Rodriguez called his team together after the game and promised them that this loss was a building block, not a scar, on an otherwise successful season for Sahuarita, which had the first 10-win season in school history.
After taking responsibility for the game's outcome, Rodriguez told his team: "You leave here a winner, and you'll always be a winner. I'm proud of you."
Rodriguez shrugged off the notion that Sunrise Mountain was unbeatable.
"They're who we want to be. We now know what we have to do to get there, and we will."
