TORRANCE - In a game where one play - Bryan Beyers' 14-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter - seemingly stood out on its own, it was a series of events that led to Pioneer Valley's 7-0 first-round Northwest Division victory at South Torrance on Friday night.

“For them to get to the playoffs and win a game is remarkable,” Panthers coach Greg Dickinson said.

The win puts the Panthers (8-3) into the Northwest quarterfinals, where they will host Harvard/Westlake of North Hollywood, a 31-14 winner over Baldwin Park. Kickoff at Panther Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

An interception by South's Mike Mandel late in the second quarter comes to mind. With both teams struggling the entire first half, Mandel's pick gave the South offense great field position at the Pioneer Valley 20-yard line.

Three plays and minus-five yards later, just one of many instances where the offense simply couldn't get anything going, Sean Dwyer attempted a 42-yard field goal that came up just short.

Another play that should be fresh in South's mind is a fourth-quarter fumble by Pioneer Valley's Victor Bryson. The significance in that play wasn't the fumble itself, it was the whole situation leading up to it.

Showing signs of life for the first time all game, the Pioneer Valley (8-3, 5-2) offense was starting to click and Bryson broke through the line for a long run.

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A few defenders finally caught up to him at the South 15-yard line and the ball was jarred loose. Kyle Butler pounced on the ball for a crucial turnover that looked as though it would swing the momentum back in the home team's favor.

Hoping to capitalize on the sudden change of events, Will Brown found Jacob Dolak on the next play for a 10-yard gain. Dolak finished with eight receptions for 116 yards.

But, once again, the offense fizzled and South (7-3-1,5-0) punted three plays later.

Pioneer Valley was stopped for minimal gains on first and second down on the ensuing possession and faced a third-and-seven from their own 38-yard line.

“Both defenses played their tails off,” Dickinson said. “The fact that we had guys who weren't playing both ways really helped us out in the fourth quarter.”

Pioneer Valley then took advantage of an overaggressive South defense and ran a reverse with receiver Shane Vogt, who rumbled down the sideline for a 44-yard gain.

A couple plays later, Beyers' 14-yard touchdown run stole the spotlight. It was a seldom-used option play that Beyers said the team rarely runs.

“It's hard for the defense to read that play,” Beyers said. “It's hard for teams to scout for it because we just don't run it very often.”

It was obvious that Pioneer Valley had done some scouting of its own. Jonathan Hokama, who ran 38 times for 268 yards and three touchdowns in the previous game against El Segundo, was held to minus-15 yards on 11 carries.

South managed to gain only five yards on the ground against the stingy Pioneer Valley defense.

“Both teams went back and forth all night,” said South coach Josh Waybright, “and they just kept going. We weren't able to break through.

“We didn't get it done.”

CIF Water Polo

Righetti 7, Agoura 6

THOUSAND OAKS - Michael Rogers scored five goals, including the eventual game-winner with 59 seconds remaining, to help the Warriors (26-5) knock off the top-seeded Chargers (27-6) in the Division IV semifinals at Oaks Christian High.

Noah Smith and Greg McGilvray scored the other goals for Righetti, which will face Mira Costa in Monday night's Division Final, scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Belmont Plaza pool in Long Beach.

Alex Thompson scored four goals in the loss for the Chargers, including a goal with 14 seconds remaining that closed the gap to 7-6, after Righetti took a 5-2 lead into the final quarter.

Tom Ross made 11 saves for the Warriors.

Nov. 18, 2006