PITTSBURG – Pittsburg defensive back Truly Bell dutifully watched film all week. He knew that Los Gatos loved to shift, motion and move before snapping the ball.
He also was aware that all of that pre-snap window dressing usually preceded a quick pass. His studiousness was rewarded in Pittsburg’s 37-20 victory over the visiting Wildcats on Friday night, with the rangy 6-foot-2 corner picking off a pass from both of Los Gatos’ quarterbacks.
The first interception came with a minute left in the first half and gave Pittsburg a short field to score a go-ahead touchdown. The second ended a Los Gatos drive late in the third quarter.
“When I’m on the field, I know everything is quick and I know what I’m doing,” Bell said after he helped hold Los Gatos to under 100 passing yards. “”We knew we had to get on the ball and get set.”
Pittsburg defensive back Truly Bell (7) intercepts a pass intended for Los Gatos tight end Owen Panu (9) during the second quarter of a high school football game, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024 in Pittsburg, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
The lopsided final score was misleading. The showdown between the reigning North Coast Section and Central Coast Section Division I champions was close until the final few minutes.
After falling behind 10-0, Pittsburg clawed back thanks to two Jamar Searcy touchdowns – a five-yard rush and a 33-yard reception down the seam – right before the half that sent the packed home stands into a frenzy.
Los Gatos reclaimed the lead midway through the third on a Beau Musser 37-yard tunnel screen, but Pittsburg regained the advantage and then padded it to two scores on back-to-back Marley Alcantara to RJ Mosley touchdown passes via fade routes in the right corner of the end zone.
The visitors got a field goal to cut the margin to eight, but Pittsburg closed things out with an Etene Pritchard safety and one more Alcantara touchdown pass late in the fourth.
Alcantara threw for 165 yards and four touchdown passes, two to Mosley and one to Searcy and Makari Kenion. But the stars of the offense was the two-back running attack.
When Los Gatos had seen enough of Washington State commit Searcy and his 94 rushing yards on 13 attempts, Pittsburg would bring in 220-pound Elijah Bow to batter the Wildcats to the tune of 105 yards. They simply had no answer for the pair that coach Charlie Ramirez calls “Thunder and Lightning.”
“He was great today, and I mean, shoot, Thunder had a ton of big carries, too,” Ramirez said. “It was great to be able to have Elijah Bow and Jamar Searcy fresh for all four quarters.”
Pittsburg running back Jamar Searcy (28) goes around left end against Los Gatos during the second quarter of a high school football game, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024 in Pittsburg, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
Pittsburg looked every bit like the team that pushed powerhouse St. John Bosco-Bellflower two weeks ago and scored 56 points on San Francisco stalwart Archbishop Riordan before that.
As the Pirates enter Bay Valley Athletic League play, their star quarterback assessed his team after a successful non-league slate.
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“We’re playing at a high level and fast and angry” Alcantara said. “We lost to St. John Bosco, but I don’t think anybody else has beat them. Being able to punch them in the mouth, and punch every other team in the mouth, what we’re doing works.”
Los Gatos’ coach Mark Krail was anything but glum following the loss. After all, the Wildcats had made the trip to the East Bay and taken a 10-point lead on Justin Mazzaferro’s five-yard touchdown and the first of two Jake Gerber field goals.
Using every shift and tactic – including unbalanced lines and the Wing-T – Los Gatos’ Grayson Doslak (93 rushing yards) chewed clock and kept Pittsburg off the field.
Even after Pittsburg fought back, and even though the Wildcats turned the ball over four times, the South Bay team kept things competitive until late in its first loss of the season.
“I’d rather play a team like this than play a game and win 62-0,” Krail said. “To me, this is football. This was exciting, and I think the crowd had a good time, too. It was tough, tough environment.”
Pittsburg (4-1) visits winless Freedom to begin league play. Los Gatos (4-1) travels to Menlo-Atherton to start its Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division slate.
“There’s going to be no let down,” Bell said.
Pittsburg players take the field before a high school football game against Los Gatos, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024 in Pittsburg, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
The Pittsburg High School cheer squad leads their football team onto the field before taking on Los Gatos, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024 in Pittsburg, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
Los Gatos quarterback Scotty Brennan (14) prepares to take on Pittsburg during the first quarter of a high school football game, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024 in Pittsburg, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
Pittsburg running back Elijah Bow (25) breaks a big gainer against Los Gatos during the first quarter of a high school football game, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024 in Pittsburg, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
Los Gatos running back Grayson Doslak (42) breaks a big gainer against Pittsburg during the first quarter of a high school football game, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024 in Pittsburg, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
Los Gatos running back Grayson Doslak (42) breaks a big gainer against Pittsburg during the first quarter of a high school football game, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024 in Pittsburg, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
Los Gatos running back Grayson Doslak (42) stiff arms Pittsburg defender Ulyssis Barsabal (23) on a long run down the sideline during the fourth quarter of a high school football game, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024 in Pittsburg, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
Los Gatos quarterback Callum Schweitzer (7) warms up before taking on Pittsburg in a high school football game, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024 in Pittsburg, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
Pittsburg head coach Charlie Ramirez, left, greets Los Gatos head coach Mark Krail following their high school football game, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024 in Pittsburg, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)