The No. 25-ranked, according to Max Preps, Pitman Pride (6-1, 2-1 CCC) pounced all over the Golden Valley Cougars (0-7, 0-3) last night at Veterans Stadium in Merced with a 27-0 victory.
After suffering their first loss of the season with a lackluster road performance against the Merced Bears, the Pride responded against Golden Valley, but Pride Head Coach Tom Tyler was anything but impressed with his team’s effort.
“We didn’t come out like we wanted to, we need to play an entire game to level we are capable of and this was not good enough,” he said.
In the first half the Pride defense gave up a Cougars fake punt for a first down and committed three mental errors on Cougar third downs to keep drives going. Also silly blocking penalties were called on several large Pride offensive and special teams plays.
“We were lucky,” said Tyler. “They didn’t want this game very much. If we play that way against Atwater next week we are going to be in trouble.”
Despite the sloppy play the Pride did physically dominate the Cougars. With 21 seconds left in the first quarter, Pride junior running back Ryan Yniquez scored on a 21-yard TD sprint and on the Cougars ensuing possession junior defensive back AJ Cheney intercepted a pass near midfield.
Six plays later Yniquez again scored, this time on a 4-yard TD run off the left tackle for a 14-0 Pitman lead.
Kicker and receiver Donovan Bravo added a 26-yard field goal with just under 4 minutes in the first half to make the score 17-0 Pride at halftime.
To open the third quarter the Pride defense began to buckle down, thanks to a third-down sack by junior defensive lineman Lorenzo Carrera which led to a Cougars punt.
Bravo made the score 20-0 on the next Pride possession thanks to an impressive 39-yard field goal. On the Cougars next offensive possession Carrera had another big sack late in the third quarter.
The Pride put the game away when senior running back Quentin Hernandez scored on a 13-yard TD run with 7 seconds left in the third quarter to make the score 27-0.
Quarterback Matt Carrigg had an impressive game, completing 5 of 7 pass attempts for 104 yards and one interception. He also ran for 27 yards.
Yniquez finished with 10 carries for 38 yards and 2 TDs, Hernandez had 41 yards rushing on 9 carries and one catch for 16 yards. Junior running back Blake McBay had 61 yards rushing on 14 carries.
Bravo had a fine game with his two field goals and 3 big receptions for 61 yards and junior tight end Micah Millentree had one catch for 31 yards.
On defense Carrera had two sacks, Cheney his interception and linebacker Quinton Coelho and Millentree combined on a sack.
Next week the Pride travel to the Atwater Falcons (2-6, 1-2 CCC) for their final road game of the season and their last matchup before heading home to host the Harvest Bowl against the Turlock High Bulldogs (5-3, 3-0 CCC).
Current Central California Conference Playoff Contenders
Merced 3-0 (6-2 overall)- #9 ranked in Sac-Joaquin Section by MaxPreps.com
Turlock 3-0 (5-3 overall)
Pitman 2-1 (6-1 overall)- #25 ranked
Atwater 0-3 (2-6 overall)
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