From outstanding special teams play to a consistent run defense, the Pirates simply physically dominated the football field, downing the Los Angeles Valley College Monarchs 35-13 in their home opener.
The Pirates were led by a potent rushing attack powered by sophomore running back Kraig McPherson’s 82 rushing yards and a touchdown. Also entering the rushing bombardment was freshman quarterback Antavius Sims, adding 41 rushing yards and a touchdown.
After slow offensive starts by both teams, the momentum seemed to lie in between both teams. After another failed third down conversion by the Pirates, it was time for the punt unit to show the crowd its merits once more. The ball was snapped, but sophomore linebacker Loren Powers took the ball instead and rushed his way forward for the first down.
The fake punt call would prove to be a stroke of genius by the Pirates head coach, as the very same offensive drive would result in a 28-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Gabriel Bostic.
Pirates coach Jon Mack gambled on the play because he believed the opportunity was given to them.
“It was open,” he said. “It’s something we always look at.”
Though the Pirate’s run defense stifled the Monarch’s rushing attack, they struggled mildly against the Monarch’s passing attack. This landed the Pirates in a spot where the Monarchs were in scoring distance.
Inside the 25-yard line, the Monarchs prepped to kick a field goal. The field goal was block, but defensive holding has been called. Seeming as though the Pirates let an opportunity slip away they lined up again and blocked the field goal again a second time.
Similar to the previous scoring drive, great special teams play led to a great offensive play as Sims threw a touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Nick Karam, taking a 14-0 lead.
Two scores and a missed extra point by the later, the great start was soon diminished when the lead was cut to one point. With the ball in striking distance to take the lead, sophomore linebacker Ryan Panapa intercepted Monarch quarterback Bret Visciglia’s pass, swinging momentum back into the Pirate’s favor.
After the interception the Pirate’s starting quarterback sophomore Gregory Jimenez helped move the offense down the field and threw a rocket touchdown pass to sophomore tight end Raphael Washington, who made a great diving catch.
Special teams play would show its importance once again as the Pirates forced a fumble on the kick return, putting them in scoring position once again. Sims made an electric 25-yard run to punch the ball into the end zone, increasing the Pirates’ lead to 28-13.
The Pirates head coach used fluid quarterback rotation throughout the game, believing they both had some spark to add to the team.
At the heart of this game was the Pirate’s ability to capitalize on great special teams play and shut down the Monarch’s rushing attack defensively. Throughout the entire game the Monarchs could not generate any semblance of a consistent rushing attack or pass protection. This was due in large part to the defensive lines strong push and aggressive penetration.
Freshman defensive lineman Tieg Kinkade believed it was the defense’s hard work in practice that helped them dominate the pass rush so well.
“[We] work a lot with pass rushing stuff, and hand fighting,” he said. “Our group works pretty much the hardest.”
The Pirates sit at 1-0, exactly where they wanted to be at the end of tonight’s game.
They move onto Lancaster where they will face the Antelope Valley College Marauders next Saturday at 7 p.m.
