All season long Pittsburg has been the top-rated team among public schools in the Bay Area News Group’s Top 25.
The Pirates showed why Friday night.
Quarterback Jaden Rashada threw two touchdown passes, Rashid Williams caught two and the defense blanked Antioch for three quarters in the Pirates’ 34-13 blowout win in the Big Little Game.
The 103rd renewal was never in doubt. Pittsburg (7-1, 5-0 Bay Valley Athletic League) led 21-0 at halftime and 34-0 after three quarters. The Pirates have won 16 of the last 18 Big Little Games, and they’re also 1-0 against the Panthers in the playoffs during that stretch.
“Our team played pretty good tonight, efficient, not too many mistakes,” Pittsburg coach Victor Galli said. “It’s nice to be the BVAL champions. It’s a testimonial to our kids. Hopefully, this gives us a little momentum and we play well in the playoffs.”
MORE PREP FOOTBALL WEEK 11 COVERAGE
- Roundup: Best of the weekend action in Week 11
- Scoreboard: Friday’s results, Saturday’s schedule
- Pass happy De La Salle too much for Clayton Valley
- San Ramon Valley erupts in second half, holds off rival Monte Vista
- Leland beats Lincoln to win BVAL Mt. Hamilton title
- Photos: Best of our staff’s Week 11 images
Ah yes, the North Coast Section playoffs. The seeding is Sunday, and it rarely goes as expected. Will this year be an exception?
Logic says the Pirates will be seeded second in the Open/Division I, behind De La Salle. Clayton Valley, which won the East Bay Athletic League’s Mountain Division, should have a leg up for the third seed in the eight-team division.
“We’ll find out what they’re going to do on Sunday,” said Galli, adding that he felt his team helped its cause with the performance against Antioch.
Indeed. The Pirates had 418 yards of total offense. On defense, they slammed the door shut, with defensive lineman Nicolas Quintero and linebacker Giomani Enea each recording 10 tackles.
Antioch could get into the playoffs as the eighth seed in Division I, which would mean a meeting at De La Salle in the first round. The Panthers had won five in a row before Friday night and finished the regular season 6-4, 4-1.
After the top three, it could be Monte Vista and California, followed by Vintage and James Logan. Both teams have won their leagues. Antioch and Liberty appear to be the final two candidates. Antioch won the regular-season meeting between the two and has a better record than Liberty (5-5, 3-2).