A Sunnyside player squats on the sideline after Peoria Centennial ended the Blue Devils' season in the Class 5A-II semifinals on Friday night.

greg bryan / ARIZONA daily star

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GLENDALE — For the third straight season, Sunnyside's title dreams have been squashed by Peoria Centennial.

Centennial easily defeated the Blue Devils 41-6 in a rainy, muddy Class 5A-II semifinal game at Glendale Community College.

Centennial wide receiver and cornerback Jarrell Barbour said the Coyotes had practiced with a wet ball this week in preparation for the weather.

It certainly showed. With rain falling steadily throughout the game, Centennial (12-1) stomped on the Blue Devils early on a field where water had pooled up significantly before the game even started.

Sunnyside coach Richard Sanchez said that the Coyotes had the momentum for the entire game.

After Sunnyside (10-3) was held on the opening possession, the Blue Devils caught Centennial quarterback Scott Burgett in the backfield, but Burgett broke tackles and sloshed 31 yards for a touchdown.

Centennial made it 14-0 on its second possession when Jeff Hughes' 14-yard run was full of a number of missed tackles by Sunnyside.

With Centennial leading 21-0, Jovan Stevenson looked to give the Blue Devils some momentum going into halftime, helping the team drive down to the Centennial 13-yard line.

But the Centennial defense held. Jaime Valdez's fourth-down throw to Mike Trejo in the end zone fell incomplete.

Sunnyside did not score until six minutes remained in the game. Valdez found Stevenson in the back right corner of the end zone to make the score 34-6.

Valdez was 5 for 21 passing for 61 yards. Stevenson had 10 carries for 42 yards and the touchdown grab, while Manny Aguilar added 56 muddy yards for the Blue Devils, mostly late in the contest.

Barbour had two interceptions for the Coyotes. Centennial's Anthony Hughes had five rushes for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Burgett was 6 for 6 through the air to add to his rushing touchdown.

Sunnyside's tumultuous season came to an end, along with the Blue Devils' bid to upset their third No. 1 seeded team this decade. The Blue Devils had players ineligible for academic and a domicile rule violation during the season.

The game started 20 minutes late after Sunnyside's bus was delayed in traffic.