Sunderland Savors Title of His Own : Division VII: He was a sophomore when Sunny Hills last won a title. Now, he hopes to add one as co-captain against Rancho Alamitos tonight.

The week leading to the Southern Section Division VII championship game has allowed Sunny Hills quarterback/free safety Bobby Sunderland an opportunity to reflect upon the title he earned two years ago.

Sunderland was a sophomore starter in the defensive secondary for Sunny Hills. The Lancers upset Tustin, 7-3, with a memorable fourth-quarter drive to claim the Division VI championship.

Former Lancer running back Kenny Overby capped a 16-play, 80-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run with 29 seconds remaining to give Sunny Hills the championship. Today, Sunderland admits he played a cameo role in the game.

“I was just out there playing and trying to do my job,” he said. “I really didn’t know any better. I really didn’t think about how special it was to win the championship. I appreciate the accomplishment of making it to the finals more this time.”

Two years later, Sunderland is playing a bigger role as top-seeded Sunny Hills (11-1-1) prepares to meet second-seeded Rancho Alamitos (11-2) for the division title at 7:30 tonight in Santa Ana Stadium.

Sunderland is a co-captain with tight end/linebacker Brian Willmer and a leader of a Lancer team that goes into the game as a heavy underdog. He looks back to the the title game with Tustin and knows what his role will be tonight.

“Back then, I looked up to (running backs) Mike Sullivan and Kenny Overby,” he said. “I wasn’t responsible for the 1990 team. But this is different. This is my team, and I’m expected to lead them into battle.

“I’ve found myself guiding those who haven’t experienced a championship week. I’m trying to help the younger players the way Overby and Sullivan helped me two years ago. And I’ve found that I appreciate the accomplishment of making it to the championship game two years ago even more now that we’ve done it again.”

Sunderland began preparing for the week’s activities as the school’s commissioner of athletics. He helped the ASB cabinet prepare today’s pep rally in the school gymnasium. Sunderland and Willmer will introduce the players and discuss the game.

The week began with a Southern Section luncheon where Sunderland got an up-close look at Rancho Alamitos’ top players--running backs Jeff Byrd and Leon Vickers, and quarterback Marshall Brown.

But practice got off to a less-than-rousing start when Sunny Hills was forced to walk through its game plan on the school’s tennis courts after heavy rains washed out the practice field Monday.

“I’m standing on the tennis courts, thinking, ‘This is an odd way to start the week for a championship game,’ ” Sunderland said. “But by Tuesday, things got back to normal. Nobody had to say anything. Everyone was fired up.”

Sunderland has had a calming effect on his teammates in playoff victories over Pomona and Kennedy. Coach Tim Devaney had introduced some new motion-oriented offensive plays that resulted in an unusual number of penalties.

Sunny Hills was penalized nine times in a 27-0 victory over Pomona in the first round and drew 15 penalties in a 28-7 victory over Kennedy in the second round. Most of the infractions were for illegal motion or holding.

“It was very frustrating,” Sunderland said. “I got upset just like everybody else when we got all those penalties, but I tried to stay calm. You can’t be the leader and lose your head.”

Sunderland began displaying his leadership qualities as a junior when he lettered in three sports, was appointed to the ASB cabinet and began earning merits as a Boy Scout that he hopes will eventually lead to an Eagle Scout award.

Sunderland earned merits in first aid, camping, wilderness survival and and personal management and then began his final project by organizing a clothing drive for Children’s Hospital of Orange.

Sunderland passed out flyers in the community and then organized 30 friends to help pick up old clothing for distribution to a local thrift shop. The next step is to submit a report on the drive and who benefited from the project.

“It’s been kind of hectic with all my sports activities, but I’m really glad my mom (Margie) encouraged me to go for the Eagle Scout,” he said. “It’s something to be proud of.”

Devaney marvels at Sunderland’s leadership ability.

“When we brought him up as a sophomore, he was one of the better athletes in the program,” Devaney said. “He had a great ability to cover the pass. But he has grown so much as a player and a person.

“He has quite an influence on the team. He does a good job of tying the team together. Bobby may not be the perfect drop-back passer, but he gets the job done. He’s a kid you can trust to lead the team and make the right choices.”