BRENTWOOD — Successful league video games has been like clockwork for Pittsburg for the final 20 years.
Friday night time’s matchup in opposition to Heritage was no completely different.
In a sport that featured two of the most popular groups within the East Bay, Pittsburg’s expertise proved to be an excessive amount of because the Pirates shut out out the Patriots 45-0 on the street.
Pittsburg struggled with penalties all through Friday’s sport, accruing over 100 yards in infractions. However that didn’t matter because the vaunted Pittsburg protection picked off two passes, sacked the quarterback thrice and held the often high-powered Heritage assault to 123 of complete offense.
Pittsburg coach Charlie Ramirez mentioned regardless of the errors, he was happy with the way in which the staff responded to adversity.
“We’re trying to avoid giving things away, whether it’s penalties or wasted opportunities,” Ramirez mentioned. “We needed to capitalize on the large performs, which we did. We buckled down, even regardless of all of the penalties.
“Seeing that maturation process with this defense was great to see. It was definitely the type of learning we want to start seeing from not a young defense, but a defense that still has some room to grow.”
The win marked the 14th straight time Pittsburg has come out victorious in opposition to its Bay Valley Athletic League rival. Pittsburg has not misplaced a sport to a BVAL opponent since 2018 and is 96-11 in league video games since 2004.
Pittsburg goes to be heavy favorites in the remainder of its league schedule going ahead, however Ramirez is hoping to see the identical degree of competitiveness and focus all through the remainder of the season.
“It’s one of those things that you don’t want to have a drop off,” he mentioned. “We don’t want to be playing against ourselves and losing track of assignments, losing track of scheme, losing track of competition and losing track of execution based on who we’re playing. Everybody in the BVAL is tough and we have to give it our best.”
Pittsburg obtained off to a quick begin in its 45-0 league-opening win over Freedom final week and Friday’s sport was no completely different.
Marley Alcantara’s 64-yard landing cross to Really Bell gave Pittsburg a 14-0 lead seven minutes into the primary quarter. Later within the first, Elijah Bow capped off a five-play, 90-yard drive with a bruising landing from 4 yards out.
Down 28-0 Within the second quarter, Heritage strung collectively its finest possession of the sport partly as a consequence of some premature performs from Pittsburg’s protection.
Backed up close to their very own finish zone, Heritage was compelled to go three-and-out, however a roughing the kicker penalty superior the Patriots’ offense down the sphere. Later within the drive, Pittsburg obtained a cease on third-and-long, however an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty saved the Heritage drive alive.
“I was frustrated by that because those are learning moments because we’re gonna use that to be able to drive home that we gotta be focusing on us,” Ramirez mentioned.
The yellow laundry continued all through the possession to the tune of 66.5 of complete yardage. However the Pirates made a goal-line stand and stopped the Patriots on the four-yard-line.
On the very subsequent play, operating again Jamar Searcy channeled his interior Beast Mode, breaking quite a few tackles en path to a 96-yard dashing rating to place Pittsburg up 35-0 at halftime.
“I saw my O-line blocking for me and the hole opened,” Searcy mentioned. “I just had to burst through it, trust the process and use my ability to break tackles.”
Searcy completed the night time with 139 yards dashing on six carries.
In an effort to maintain the staff and the gang within the sport, Heritage performed the favored Journey tune, “Don’t Stop Believin” at halftime, however Pittsburg closed the door on any massive comeback early within the third quarter.
With most starters on the sideline, Pittsburg drove 72 yards in 4 performs, ending with a Carlos Torres to Makari Kenion 39-yard landing cross on the primary possession of the second half that initiated the operating clock rule and iced the sport for Pittsburg.
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“We feel like we’re the best team in NorCal,” Searcy mentioned. “We just had to treat the game like practice, don’t overlook our opponent and just play a physical game.”
The Patriots had been heavy underdogs going into Friday’s sport. Heritage was with out senior beginning quarterback Phillip Babbitt who was out with harm and was overmatched at nearly each place.
Longtime Heritage coach Dave Fogelstrom is aware of all too effectively the challenges of enjoying Pittsburg – a staff that’s at all times loaded with faculty expertise.
“Things happen faster against Pittsburg than they do in any other game,” he mentioned. “It’s just something that until you experience it as a player, you just don’t know what you’re in for.”
Harm Updates
Each groups performed a bodily sport, which led to some unlucky accidents down the stretch.
Alcantara limped off the sphere early within the second quarter after what gave the impression to be a hamstring harm. He re-entered the sport on Pittsburg’s ultimate drive of the primary half, however sat the second half with the remainder of the starters when the sport was out of attain for Heritage. Ramirez confirmed Alcantara is OK and the staff was being precautious about his harm by protecting him on the sideline.
Pittsburg offensive lineman Jonah Leleasapai was carted off the sphere after rolling his ankle on the identical play Alcantara needed to go away the sport. Ramirez mentioned Leleasapai suffered a excessive ankle sprain – a re-aggravation of an ankle harm he suffered earlier this season – however mentioned he doesn’t imagine the harm is “anything serious.”
