Pittsburg is no fan of moral victories, but the Pirates were not shocked that they hung tough against nationally ranked St. John Bosco in Bellflower on Friday night.
“I wasn’t surprised at how the game went at all,” Pittsburg coach Charlie Ramirez told the Bay Area News Group.
“That’s why we scheduled them. I knew we were capable of playing with the best, and we did. I don’t think the kids were surprised to a certain extent because of how they came out.”
For almost three quarters, Pittsburg was within a touchdown of the vaunted Southern California juggernauts. But Bosco’s talent proved to be too much in the end as the Pirates fell 35-14 on the road.
“You don’t get an opportunity as a Northern California team to play against these guys unless you go down and play them in the championship game,” he said. “The learning part tonight was exactly what I was looking to try and accomplish for our guys.
“They’ve got to learn that they’re on the same playing field with these guys. No matter how big or fast or explosive, we’re a pretty explosive team as well. So the kids got to learn what they really can do on the biggest stage. I would say that was the biggest learning part. … We learned that we can compete.”
Though Pittsburg was held to its lowest point total of the season, the Pirates had success moving the ball against a defense loaded with Division I talent.
Quarterback Marley Alcantara was 26 for 33 for 212 yards and two touchdowns.
RJ Mosley and Kenny Ward each caught a touchdown pass. Running back Jamar Searcy totaled 86 yards on 20 carries.
After Bosco went up seven on its first drive of the game, Pittsburg responded with a 10-play drive that ended with Alcantara finding Mosley for a one-yard touchdown pass to tie the game.
On the ensuing possession, Bosco quarterback Matai Fuiava found Carson Clark for a 79-yard score to go up 14-7.
But Pittsburg had another counter punch for the Southern California school when Alcantara connected with Ward on a 76-yard bomb to tie the game early in the second quarter.
Ward, a freshman, had a breakout game last week against Riordan in which he had a pick-six and a receiving touchdown.
“Outside of his physical attributes, he has a good grasp of the game, a good feel for the game,” Ramirez said. “That’s why he’s able to play as much as he does. It’s great to see how he’s grown throughout the season and who he’s going to become in November, December. It’s going to be special.”
Going down 21-14 at halftime, Pittsburg played the Braves close for most of the third quarter. On Bosco’s first possession of the second half, Pittsburg forced the Braves to go three-and-out.
But at the end of the third is where Bosco started to pull away.
Maliq Allen capped off a long Bosco drive with a two-yard touchdown rush to go up two scores.
On a crucial drive in the fourth quarter, Pittsburg turned the ball over on downs and gave Bosco the ball near midfield. With just over a minute to go in the game, Bosco delivered the knockout blow after Ashton Keyes rushed in for a three-yard touchdown to put the Braves up 35-14.
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Playing Bosco close for most of the game was a sign for Ramirez and his coaching staff that the team is on the right track.
Just a week ago, Bosco won a 40-point, running clock game at Serra in which the Braves dominated on both sides of the ball. But Pittsburg was within striking distance in the second half and could have taken the lead at points during Friday’s game.
“We’re trying not to be complacent and not to be casual,” Ramirez said. “If you’re casual, you’re going to get worked and that’s what I keep telling guys.”
Pittsburg will have time to regroup as it goes into the bye week at 3-1. The Pirates will play one more non-league game against Los Gatos on Oct. 4 before starting league play a week later.