Sunset sneaks by Goleman in 46-36 shootout

Sunset overcame a fourth-quarter deficit in a District 16-7A matchup at Tropical Park .

Sophomore quarterback Michael Cox threw for 123 yards and three touchdowns for the Knights (3-1, 3-0), including the go-ahead 12-yard strike to senior Tariq Peters with 10:27 remaining for their scoring connection of the game. Peters also scored on a 67-yard interception return.

Backup quarterback Steven Cruz found junior Javier Zuniga on the third play of the game for a 63-yard touchdown as the Knights led 21-6 after the first quarter.

Freshman quarterback Daryn Jones ran for 163 yards and four touchdowns on 23 carries for the Gators (1-3, 1-2), but he was picked off twice in the second half. Sophomore running back Derrick Hall added a pair of rushing touchdowns from 78 and 60 yards in the third quarter when Goleman took a 30-28 lead.

“We knew this was going to be a tough one,” Sunset coach Joseph Petisco said. “We talked to them at halftime and said when we get the ball we have to slow down a little bit and keep the ball out of their hands. They might have run twice as many plays as us. ... This was a grind-it-out type of game, and I’m just glad it’s over.”