Sunny Hills’ Offensive Backfield a Triple Threat

Their running styles are as diverse as their personalities.

Brian Pizula is a quiet, disciplined fullback who runs with power. He’s a blue-collar worker who leads by example.

Kenny Overby, a slashing-style runner, is an easy-going halfback who keeps the team loose during long practices. He usually wears a big smile but he’s all business during games.

Mike Sullivan, the Z-back, is the fastest and most intelligent player on the team. His elusive moves seem to dare opponents to tackle him.

Together, the Sunny Hills High School trio makes up the best offensive backfield combination in Orange County.

“They’re everything that they’re advertised to be,” said El Modena Coach Bill Backstrom, after watching films of Sunny Hills’ 31-6 victory over Rowland. El Modena will play Sunny Hills at 7:30 tonight in Fred Kelly Stadium.

Pizula got Sunny Hills out of the blocks quickly in the lopsided victory over Rowland, running 55 yards on the first play of the game for a touchdown. He gained 198 yards on 10 carries despite playing only the first half.

“He destroyed us,” said Ron Urabe, Rowland’s defensive coordinator. “He ran around us, over us and through us. His speed is very deceptive. We couldn’t catch him.”

Overby’s debut was just as impressive. He gained 81 yards on 12 carries despite missing most of the second half because of leg cramps. But he was disappointed that he failed to gain 100 yards.

“That doesn’t surprise me,” said Tim Devaney, Sunny Hills coach. “Kenny is a competitor and I know one of his goals is to be among the leading rushers in the county. Unfortunately, we had breakdowns in our blocking assignments nearly every time he carried he ball.”

Typically, Overby assessed the missed blocking assignments with a bit of humor.

“Brian got the blocks because he paid the linemen,” he said.

Sullivan, a junior playing in his first varsity game after transferring from Servite, caught a 27-yard touchdown pass but was limited to 14 yards rushing. He wasn’t disappointed with his performance, however.

“I’m the new kid here and I’m just trying to follow in the footsteps of Brian and Kenny,” Sullivan said. “We push each other in practice and I’ve enjoyed the competition. I’m happy to play anywhere.”

Sullivan was forced to play on the junior varsity as a sophomore because his family did not change residency after he transferred from Servite to Sunny Hills. After gaining 1,200 yards and scoring 21 touchdowns as a tailback, varsity coaches were wondering how they were going to fit Sullivan into an already crowded backfield.

Sullivan was moved to Z-back, lining up behind the tight end where he is primarily used as a blocker and pass receiver.

“We’re blessed with three good backs where most schools have one,” Devaney said. “They’ve been a lot of fun to work with and they complement each other very well.”

Devaney, who generally takes a low-key approach, has problems hiding his excitement when the subject is Pizula, a 195-pound senior who averaged 9.1 yards per carry as a junior.

“We’ve never had a player work so hard in the off-season to improve his speed and strength like Brian has,” Devaney said. “He’s quicker than you can imagine and strong as an ox.”

Pizula credits the discipline of a three-time league champion wrestler for much of his success on the football field. He won the league title as a 154-pound freshman and repeated as a sophomore and junior at 165 pounds.

“Wrestling is a mentally and physically demanding sport where sometimes you say, ‘I hate this. I can’t stand it anymore.’ But it’s been great for my leg balance and strength,” he said.

Overby, a four-sport varsity letterman last year in football, basketball, track and baseball, will be a starting guard for Sunny Hills’ basketball team. He hopes the torn ligaments in his right arm will have healed enough so he can pitch for the Lancers’ baseball team. He also runs the sprints for the track team.

Sullivan also will be busy in the spring, doubling as sprinter on the track team and playing baseball. Last year, Sullivan edged Overby in a 100-yard dash to become the school’s fastest athlete.

Devaney calls Sullivan, “the All-American Kid,” and for good reason. Sullivan is the school’s junior class president and has maintained a 4.25 grade-point average. “He has success written all over him,” Devaney said.

All three are quick, strong and experienced, but a running back is only as good as his offensive line. Sunny Hills has one of its most physical lines in the school’s history.

Three all-league performers--center Robert Sung, right guard Darren Correll and right tackle Pat Marshall--anchor the line.

“I’m confident they’ll do the job every time I get the ball,” Pizula said.

Overby doesn’t quite share Pizula’s confidence. So he had a simple message for Sunny Hills’ line entering tonight’s game: “Please block for me, too.”