The Turlock High School Bulldogs (6-4, 4-1 CCC) proved they are a team to be reckoned with come next week when the CIF Sac-Joaquin Playoff begin after a convincing Harvest Bowl victory over cross-town rival the Pitman High School Pride (7-2, 3-2 CCC) 41-10.

The Pride simply could not find a way to consistently pressure Turlock senior quarterback Bubba Moreno, who had an outstanding game to cement himself as one of the best, if not the best, player in the Central California Conference.

Against the number one ranked Pride defense, Moreno amassed (in less than three quarters of play) 384 total yards and four touchdowns; Moreno rushed for 63 yards with a TD, and threw for 313 yards with 3 TDs on 21 completions in 27 attempts.

The Bulldogs jumped out to an early 14-3 lead in the first quarter after Moreno hit receiver Jeffery Hines for a 56-yard TD on a scramble pass and found the endzone himself on a 10-yard TD run up the middle.

Midway thru the second quarter the game was 14-10 Bulldogs when the perhaps the miracle play of the season was made. On a 3rd and 17 from their own 48, it appeared as if the Pride were going to get a sack, but just as Moreno was being pushed to the sideline he heaved the ball 20 yards down field to receiver Danny Velasquez to keep the drive alive.

Four plays later Velasquez scored on a 15-yard wide-receiver screen play to make the score 21-10 Turlock with 4:19 left in the first half.

The Bulldogs took a 28-10 lead going into the half thanks to 59-yard pass play to Hines, which set up an 8-yard TD pass from Moreno to tight end Allen “Bear” Padilla with 15 seconds left.

Any hope of life for the Pride was quickly destroyed when the Bulldogs scored on two lengthy drives capped off by a 2-yard TD run by running back Andy Jennings and a 3-yard TD run by running back Brandon Booz, respectively.

For the game, the box score was filled with yardage. Receiver Jacob Mabie had 4 receptions for 35 yards, Hines, 2 catches for 115 yards and a TD, Padilla 4 catches for 42 yards and a TD, Velasquez had 88 receiving yards on 6 catches and a TD along with 22 yards rushing, Booz had 35 yards rushing on 7 carries, and a TD and Jennings had 17 yards rushing with a TD and 10 yards receiving. Running back Andrew Lopez had another workhorse effort with 81 yards rushing on 11 carries and one catch for 3 yards.

After the game Moreno gave all the credit to his offensive line and wide receivers.

“We couldn’t do anything without them blocking so well,” he said.

In regards to his big game he said, “I was just kind of throwing the ball up and the receivers were making the plays.”

Of course the Bulldogs defense can’t be ignored — they completely stuffed the Pride offensive game.

With the win, the Bulldogs earn sole possession of second place in the CCC and have an outside shot at hosting a first round playoff game — especially considering their tough schedule this season.

The Pride, who simply couldn’t muster much on either side of the ball following injuries to running back Blake McBay and linebacker Micah Millentree, will likely earn a playoff spot with a 7-2 record.

TurlockCityNews.com will announce the playoff schedule for both teams when it becomes available next Wednesday.

Harvest Bowl 2014 Highlights Courtesy of Dezgabe Productions