Santa Cruz coach Rishard Davis wasn’t satisfied with his team’s dominant performance in the season opener.

Davis’ team can tidy up some things, but a 40-14 road win over a top-10 team reaffirmed that Santa Cruz is one of the elite 2A teams this year. Paradise Honors of Surprise, which returned two 1,000 yard rushers, had trouble moving the ball at its home away from home, Odyssey Institute High of Buckeye.

Santa Cruz’s defense gave up opening drive touchdowns in each half and that was about it. There’s pressure on Santa Cruz this year to return to its glory years, when it won seven state championships.

The last state championship season came in 1990. It’s only one game, but Santa Cruz was off and running Friday, scoring in its first four drives.