Pioneer Valley, with a backup quarterback and nine sophomores on the starting roster mustered only 159 yards of offense Friday night against Morro Bay. As it turned out, that was all they needed, winning 14-6.

“We bent, we didn't break,” said the Panthers head coach Greg Dickinson.

The visiting Morro Bay Pirates (5-4) started the game against the non-league Panthers in dominant form, forcing the first year football program to punt their first set of downs.

Morro Bay would drive from their own 25-yard line. An 18-yard pass on third down by Jack Crizer to his favorite deep target Logan Budd would take the Pirates into enemy territory.

Running the option, Crizer would carry twice within the panther's 10-yard line to give Morro Bay a fresh set of downs on the three.

Kevin Hames would run in his third touchdown of the season from the one, but would miss the extra point to put the Pirates up by six with 3:24 left in the first.

In a suprise play on special teams, Morro Bay's kicker sent a low bouncer right into the legs of an unsuspecting Panther defender. Linebacker Ryan Cummings was there to fall on the rebound, giving the Pirates the ball back at midfield.

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The Panthers, set to join the Los Padres League next season, kept the Pirates from capitalizing on the turnover, forcing a three and out.

With only 10 offensive plays in the first quarter, the question became whether Pioneer Valley, having lost starting quarterback Bryan Beyers to a concussion in last week's 30-7 loss versus Filmore, could muster positive yardage against the bigger line of Morro Bay. For the most part, they could not, punting the ball away five times before scoring.

Facing yet another third down and long situation in a third quarter drive, the Pioneer Valley offense turned a page in the playbook and had backup quarterback Chris Etheridge, a starting linebacker before last week, and had him send a 30-yard bomb toward tight end Aaron Hernandez who found himself suprisingly open on the Pirates' 10-yard line.

“Chris did a great job of leading us,” said Dickinson. “A lot of boys grew up tonight.”

Etheridge would score on a quarterback sneak two downs later.

Panthers kicker Gabriel Nunez, sporting a heavy limp, managed to kick the extra point to make it 7-6 in the third quarter.

Morro Bay found ways to move the ball, with Crizer easily passing the 1500 yards for passing and rushing mark for the season, but found the Panther's goal line defense tough to crack.

“When you're inside the nine-yard-line three times and you don't score,” said Pirate coach John Andree. “You can't win like that.”

A key turnover also contributed to Morro Bay's upset. A pitch play would be bobbled by the Pirate running back, and linebacker Josh Vogt would fall on the pigskin to give Pioneer Valley the ball 23 yards from the endzone.

Frank Tovar would capitalize on the fumble from five yards out untouched, to make it 14-6 with 4:30 left on the clock.

Pioneer Valley improves to 6-3, and will play on the road against Santa Clara for a chance at a CIF bid.

“We'll be ready next year,” said Dickinson over the din of a celebrating locker room, refering to the Panthers addition to the LPL.

Paso Robles 49, Righetti 14

The Warriors' season is probably over.

The loss at Paso Robles in their regular season finale dropped them to 1-3 in the PAC-5 League and 4-6-0 overall. Righetti has a bye week next week. With a fourth-place PAC-5 finish and a sub-.500 overall record, it is unlikely the Warriors will make the playoffs.

Righetti has lost three straight.

Meanwhile, Paso Robles (3-0, 5-4-0) wins the league championship if it defeats rival Atascadero next Friday night. The PAC-5 League playoff field is likely set. Paso Robles, Atascadero and Arroyo Grande have all clinched berths.

Righetti's defense forced Paso Robles into a three-plays-and-out first series. A short punt into a stiff wind gave the Warriors the ball at the Bearcats 32. Six plays later, Chad Stephens scored from the 7.

Righetti nearly had the ball at the Paso Robles 19 when Bearcats quarterback Stuart Sheldon fumbled on the ensuing series, but J.R. Reynolds recovered the ball for the Bearcats. The Warriors' grip on the game began to slip when Sheldon hit Justin Swanson for a 25-yard gain to the Paso Robles 45.

It was just about all Bearcats after that. Darrell Duran's 1-yard run nine plays after the big pass completion started their run of 42 unanswered points.

Sheldon scored three rushing touchdowns. He threw for 201 yards. Justin Swanson caught eight passes for 149 yards, and he caught a 9-yard scoring pass from Sheldon.

Stephens finally broke the Bearcats' run with a 55-yard touchdown scamper in the third quarter. He wound up with 160 yards on 27 carries.

Atascadero 31, SLO 14

The Greyhounds finally found the CIF playoffs as a member of the PAC-5 League.

Gunnar Jespersen was 11-for-12 for 245 yards and one touchdown in the victory for the Greyhounds, who guaranteed their first over-.500 record since 1997 and moved to a perfect 4-0 on the road this season.

Atascadero tailback Rickey Taylor rushed for 158 yards and two touchdowns in the victory, which gave the Tigers (0-3, 2-6-1) their fifth straight loss.

VCA 8, NCC 0

The Lions (3-2, 3-5) will find out Sunday if they will play any more football this season.

VCA put itself into position for a suspenseful Sunday by winning its regular season finale at Atascadero High School and guaranteeing itself a third-place finish in the Coast Valley League. The top two CVL teams are guaranteed playoff spots.

The Lions are hoping for a wild card. They will find out Sunday whether or not they get one.

Danny Wilson caught a 30-yard pass from Fernando Calderon for the Lions' touchdown. Calderon ran in the two-point conversion.

Nov. 5, 2005