SUNNYSIDE -- One week after the most frustrating of four straight losses to open the season, Sunnyside showed no signs of a team lacking in confidence.
The Grizzlies' defense put together an impressive performance to shut down West Valley's productive offense, capped off by junior Mason Strieck's interception return for a touchdown in the game's final minutes. A methodical offense controlled the ball all night and pulled away late for a 35-3 win against a team that scored 47 points at home last Friday.
"Our guys were flying around there," coach Marshall Lobbestael said. "They had a good week of practice. It would have been super easy for us at 0-4 to have bad attitudes and to look at, 'oh, they're putting up a bunch of points' and we just didn't do that."
He said the Rams effectively used a spy to limit CBBN receptions leader Cody Diddens to just two catches in the first half while running back Derek Hansen carried the ball 18 times for 96 yards. But Hansen left the game with a leg injury from his first carry after halftime and Diddens gave the passing game a boost, finishing with five catches for 64 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown reception.
The senior also grabbed the third of four Sunnyside interceptions, all by different players. A talented group of seniors led by Air Force recruit Noah McNair graduated last spring, leaving big shoes for Diddens and a host of young players to fill.
"We have a great coaching staff that watches film day and night we have a really great head coach and really great DB coach that watch film every day," Diddens said. "I think it was them just prepping us and honestly probably just the four weeks of losing, I think that really just gave us the motivation to push through."
Lobbestael said Friday's game brought another challenge, since Hansen's heavy workload running the ball meant someone else had to step into his defensive back position. One of those young players, sophomore Ramon Casas, contributed a critical interception near the goal line after a Devin Ortiz interception set up a short field for the Rams.
They also found little space to run against Sunnyside's defensive front, which tallied three sacks and forced a fumble, all in the second half. Only Chase Massey's 22-yard field goal set up by a 37-yard pass from Drayden Birley to former quarterback Ben Beardemphl and a 12-yard run by Antonio Barajas kept the Grizzlies from shutting out West Valley for the second straight year.
Sunnyside (1-2 CBBN, 1-5 overall) gave up at least 24 points in each of its first four games against a tough schedule featuring nonleague tests vs. Skyline and Coeur d'Alene as well as league matchups against the CBBN's top two teams a year ago. Two special teams touchdowns cost the Grizzlies in last week's 28-27 loss at Eastmont, a game they led 21-14 late in the third quarter.
"That was a crushing defeat but I think it was really, again, just staying together and just getting really upset that we lost," Diddens said. "I believe that we should have won that game, but it's football."
Lobbestael said the emotional drain from that game carried over into Monday's practice, but the team recovered well and fixed the mistakes it needed to correct. He still saw room for significant improvement Friday, particularly on offense heading into next Friday's game against what he sees as a much-improved Davis team, which also won its first game at Ephrata Friday night.
Two years ago Sunnyside turned its 0-3 start into a 6-5 finish, ending with a 49-20 loss to No. 1 seed Chiawana in the first round of the state playoffs. Lobbestael reminded his team after the final whistle of how good it will feel if they achieve their goal of winning a postseason game, and Diddens believes they've put in the work to make it possible.
"I think our potential's state, obviously, and past state, but I see no limit in this team," Diddens said. "This offseason we came together and really bonded at football camp and I think we're really connected and whole."
West Valley (1-1, 3-2), which started 3-1 last year and finished the season 4-6, saw its three-game winning streak end and will host Wenatchee next Friday.
West Valley=0=0=3=0= -- =3
Sunnyside=7=0=6=21= -- =34
SUN -- Chris Villanueva 22 pass from Ethan Avalos (Avalos kick)
SUN -- Mason Strieck 1 pass from Avalos (run failed)
WV -- FG Chase Massey 22
SUN -- Cody Diddens 24 pass from Avalos (Avalos kick)
SUN -- Trey Castro 4 run (Avalos kick)
SUN -- Strieck 50 interception return (Avalos kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING -- Sun, Derek Hansen 19-97, Castro 6-12, Alonzo Palacios 8-55, Diddens 1-7, Avalos 1-(minus-4). WV, Devin Anciso 15-72, Antonio Barajas 2-15, TEAM 1-(minus-17), Drayden Birley 3-(-19).
PASSING -- Sun, Avalos 20-30-1-205. WV, Birley 10-25-4-113.
RECEIVING -- Sun, Strieck 7-70, Diddens 5-64, Villanueva 4-38, Iavden Cerda 1-23, Adrian Ramos 2-5, Hansen 1-5. WV, Ben Beardemphl 5-57, Erik Campos 4-43, Seth Woodcock 1-13.