SAN JOSE — An old-time defensive dogfight broke out Friday evening in entrance of a near-capacity crowd at Pioneer Excessive College because the Mustangs made a first-quarter landing and a few area targets rise up in a 13-0 win over archrival Leland within the newest installment of the Battle of the Den.
The win evened the collection between the 2 Almaden Valley faculties, based on MaxPreps, at 10-10.
“Playing this game with Leland it doesn’t matter what the records are,” Pioneer coach Eric Perry mentioned. “The kids all know each other and they play so hard against each other. It’s nice to be on the winning side of it.”
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Pioneer's Braeden Ries (19) passes the ball in opposition to Leland in the course of the second half at Pioneer Excessive College in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Pioneer received 13-0. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Space Information Group)
On Pioneer’s first possession of the sport Braeden Ries linked with Connor Christensen on a 13-yard landing move. That was it so far as crossing the aim line was involved on this contest.
Nathan Bearrows kicked a 37-yard area aim within the closing minute of the primary quarter to make it 10-0, and the rating stayed that approach till 1:41 was left within the recreation when Bearrows added a 34-yard area aim.
In between was loads of good defensive play by each groups, most notably by Pioneer.
Pioneer's Bryce Coats (56), center, seems on in the course of the first half in opposition to Leland at Pioneer Excessive College in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Space Information Group)
Junior defensive finish Matthew Wheeler broke free for 3 sacks. Doing it in opposition to Leland made it extra particular.
“It’s such an intense battle,” Wheeler mentioned. “It’s a big rival game, everyone’s here. The crowd is going crazy. It feels really nice to get those sacks and hear the stands calling my name.”
Leland, which received the Central Coast Part Division V championship a yr in the past, was hit exhausting by commencement and is attempting to make a transition with new personnel and a brand new head coach, Anthony Herrera, who replaces Kelly King Jr., now at Piedmont Hills.
Leland's Philip Arsintescu (15) tosses the ball to Leland's David Ahlgren (3) in opposition to Pioneer in the course of the second half at Pioneer Excessive College in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Pioneer received 13-0. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Space Information Group)
“Offense failed tonight, I failed tonight at not putting these guys in better position to win and execute offensively,” Herrera mentioned. “We go back to the drawing board tomorrow with our lift and film session and start preparing for Lincoln.”
Pioneer operating again Colton Bermillo was the highest offensive participant on the night as he rushed for 106 yards on 16 carries. Ries accomplished 7 of 16 passes for 44 yards.
“Defense did a great job,” Herrera mentioned. “We lost the penalty battle and the turnover battle which is why we lost the game. We’re a young team, we’re going to learn from this.”
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Leland quarterback Philip Arsintescu was 11 of 17 for 96 yards. Sam McFarland carried 18 instances for 50 yards. The Pioneer protection got here up with two fumble recoveries and an interception by Christensen.
Bearrow, along with his two area targets, was a giant think about Pioneer successful the sector place recreation within the second half with punts of 52, 50 and 44 yards, the latter one a coffin nook magnificence going out of bounds on the 2.
Center linebacker JJ Garcia had tackles for loss on two successive performs on one Leland possession.
“Putting all hats on the ball,” Garcia mentioned in a proof as to why the protection was so profitable on this explicit event. “Going all out in practice during the week and executing on Friday.”
Pioneer celebrates after defeating Leland at Pioneer Excessive College in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Pioneer received 13-0. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Space Information Group)
Pioneer head coach Eric Perry reacts after defeating Leland at Pioneer Excessive College in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Pioneer received 13-0. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Space Information Group)
Pioneer head coach Eric Perry celebrates along with his staff after defeating Leland at Pioneer Excessive College in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Pioneer received 13-0. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Space Information Group)
Pioneer's Jonathan Silveira (13) is tackled by Leland's Dylan Repetto (11) in the course of the second half at Pioneer Excessive College in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Pioneer received 13-0. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Space Information Group)
Pioneer's Braeden Ries (19) fingers the ball to Pioneer's Adam Larson (24) in opposition to Leland in the course of the second half at Pioneer Excessive College in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Pioneer received 13-0. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Space Information Group)
Leland's Cole Canter (5) runs the ball in opposition to Pioneer's Juan Jose Garcia (2) in the course of the first half at Pioneer Excessive College in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Space Information Group)
Leland's Philip Arsintescu (15) seems to move the ball in opposition to Pioneer in the course of the second half at Pioneer Excessive College in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Pioneer received 13-0. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Space Information Group)
