Bay Area powerhouse Pittsburg rolls Monterey Trail a year after a defensive battle

Crowds rolled in by the dozens to fill the bleachers at Mark Macres Memorial Stadium in Elk Grove on Friday night to watch the Monterey Trail Mustangs take on visiting Pittsburg High School of Contra Costa County in their home opener.

It was a long week of school, and the Mustangs hoped to avenge a couple of one-score losses: last week’s 6-point loss at Inderkum and last season’s defeat at Pitt, which went 13-1 to finish out 2023, losing in a CIF Northern California championship to Folsom.

Despite a spirited game for Monterey Trail that featured inflatables and students dressed in the school’s mascot costumes running down the track alongside other students waving “MT” flags, the Mustangs fell to the Pirates, 42-13.

“The kids on our team are real fighters and these kids really want to win,” Monterey Trail coach T.J. Ewing said. “They put all their heart into it year round. They’re going to work their tail off for it. So we’re not gonna ever bow down or back down. Our kids will get after it.”

Ewing has been the coach at Monterey Trail since the school opened 21 years ago. He knew that this game would be a good test to dictate where they are at on the season and what they need to work on.

“I really like our team right now,” Ewing said. “I think our team was fine. We’re still trying to get in shape, and we had that dead period for two weeks off. So we’re still trying to get ourselves back to the (playing) level.”

A gentle, summer breeze swept through the field as the sun set between the trees. There was a calm in the stadium that settled the Mustangs, who trailed immediately following an opening game kickoff returned for a score by Pitt senior Makari Kenion and another score on the Pirates’ first offensive possession by running back Elijah Bow.

The Mustangs, down 14-0, responded with a sequence that included a sack, fumble and recovery by senior linebacker Kharter Turk with 1:30 left in the first quarter. Monterey Trail senior running back D’Adrien Sanders showcased a couple of good runs on the ensuing drive — 23 yards to move the sticks as the first quarter ended and then a 19-yard touchdown run with 9:25 in second quarter to cut the deficit to 14-7.

On the next kickoff, the Mustangs retrieved a lucky bounce that ended up in the grasp of junior Devin Parrow, who raced about 40 yards downfield to beat everyone to the ball. But Monterey Trail couldn’t capitalize.

Pirates running back Jamar Searcy raced 81 yards into the end zone for a 21-7 lead with 5:53 in the second quarter. Following an empty offensive possession by Monterey Trail, Pitt scored on a 59-yard bomb from senior Marley Alcantara to freshman Kenny Ward. Alcantara threw three touchdowns. Pitt led 35-7 at the half.

Despite getting down, the Mustangs never wavered. They never threw in the towel. They kept fighting.

“We made a couple of big, big mistakes that caused the game to get away from us. We had no shot to get back at one point,” Ewing said. “Give them credit to Pittsburgh. They’re well coached.”

Sanders ended the game with two rushing touchdowns, bulldozing again for a score late in the fourth quarter as the game came to a close.

“Great athlete, great player,” Ewing said of Sanders. “He’s just a fantastic player. We’re trying to still work with him. He’s an improviser. So I’m trying not to get him hurt, because when he turns, he spins, it’s these crazy, awesome moves. Sometimes he opens up to get hit, so I’m trying to help the kid so he doesn’t hurt himself and can keep busting to get yard because he’s very talented.”

Pittsburg aims to win its fourth consecutive North Coast Section Division I championship. Pirates coach Charlie Ramirez is in his 21st season with the program.

“Our motto has always been, we’re just going to try and play fast and physical,” Ramirez said. “We’re trying to win the one on one. And minimize the thought process by focusing on the little things. As cliche as that may sound, that’s really what we’re going to try to focus on and let everything else take care of itself.”

Monterey Trail will host another Bay Area power next week in El Cerrito.

This story was originally published August 30, 2024 at 11:53 PM.