How Pittsburg’s electrifying backfield ran past California and into the NCS Division I title game
NCS Division I playoffs: Jamar Searcy and Elijah Bow combine for almost 350 yards and four touchdowns in victory over California.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The rain never became anything more than a steady downpour during Pittsburg’s 35-14 North Coast Section Division I playoff victory over visiting California on Friday night.
But Pitt running backs Elijah Bow and Jamar Searcy, who combined for 349 yards and four touchdowns, were on full display as Bow bolted through tacklers and Searcy flashed across the field.
“Jamar Searcy, he’s lightning in a bottle,” said Pitt quarterback Marley Alcantara. “And Elijah is him.” That’s what he’s been doing all year.”
California, which received 170 yards from Jayedo and a 75-yard touchdown reception from Nick Fox, was able to hang with Pittsburg for a half, trailing only 14-7 at the break.
In a show of force by the home team, the Grizzlies were unable to contain the Pirate backfield. In the last 24 minutes. Bow rushed for two touchdowns, and Searcy pulled away with a 35-yard wheel route out of the end zone.
“They just wore us down,” said Cal High coach Danny Calcagno. “Their backs are big, and they’re physical.”
After the Pirates’ defensive backs belted Cal receivers and Pitt offensive linemen created massive holes in the second half, Pittsburg looked every bit like a championship-caliber team.
So, in its first year under coach Charlie Ramirez, Pittsburg finds itself in a familiar place: the North Coast Section Division I championship game.
The Pirates will face San Ramon Valley after the Danville school blew a fourth-quarter lead and lost 17-7 to the Spartans in the Open Division championship game. As the loser of that game, SRV advances to the Division I championship.
“That makes us very happy,” Ramirez said. “As long as we’re playing our best possible games, we’re going to be hard to beat.”
Until the second half, it was unclear whether Pittsburg would face San Ramon Valley. Pittsburg scored first when defensive back Samu Iosia returned an interception 50 yards, the first of two heartbreaking Cal High turnovers.
Macedo and the Grizzlies offense responded with a long touchdown bomb down the right sideline to Fox. The defenses held firm until the third quarter after Bow rumbled into the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown to cap off a six-play touchdown drive with two minutes left in the first quarter.
“Since the Los Gatos game, the defensive line has been huge for us,” said the coach. “Having Juju Walls and Bradley Ruffin going both ways has been big.”
Searcy snuck out of the backfield on a wheel route and caught Alcantara’s 35-yard touchdown pass midway through the third quarter to make it 21-7. Searcy’s ability to turn a loss into a spectacular long run saved several Pittsburg drives, despite the fact that it was his only touchdown.
Cal High responded with a tenacious nine-play drive into the red zone. Four-star prospect Jadyn Hudson, on the other hand, showed why he has offers from major colleges by forcing and recovering a fumble to keep the Grizzlies from scoring.
“JuJu and Jadyn, they’re both amazing players,” he went on to say. “I know they can make plays whenever.”
Pittsburg then took control, scoring two more rushing touchdowns from Bow behind Ruffin and Starfordshire Taimani blocks to seal the win. California’s Luke Taylor scored on a late kickoff return.
The Pirates will have a chance to win their third NCS Division I championship in a row, albeit under slightly different circumstances.
Pittsburg had previously been demoted to Division I, where it defeated Clayton Valley Charter after losing to De La Salle in the Open title game.
The Pirates will enter the championship game against San Ramon Valley on a high note this time.
“This team, as young as they are, they’ve been oblivious to the pressure,” the coach said.
