Pioneer bounces back from skid, earns first win in effort to enhance CIF playoff hopes
The Pioneer Patriots are newcomers to the Monticello Empire League, and they made Friday night in West Sacramento a night to cherish.
Pioneer defeated the host River City Raiders, 14-10, in a close game that was promptly ended by junior Devion Corley’s fourth-quarter interception.
The Patriots were without head coach Matt Bryson, who was out of town with a prior engagement. Interim head coach Jason Whitfield was a worthy caretaker. The Woodland-based team moved to 4-3 on the season and kept their CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoff hopes alive.
“It feels great to win,” Whitfield said. “But I’m most happy with the way we fought. I knew it was going to be a close game all the way through, and I am just glad with the way we pulled it out.”
The Patriots touchdowns were off handoffs to seniors Landon Dahler and Alex Macias. Dahler’s score came right after an interception by senior Tiburcio Silva. Whitfield said his team’s resolve impressed him,.
“We’ve gotten beat up a little bit the last couple of weeks,” Whitfield said. “I love to see us come back and fight, continue to not give up. We stuck together, which is the most important part.”
Whitfield credited team captains Dahler, Prince Flores, Diego Preciado and Martin Barz as being essential to keeping this team’s spirit up throughout the game. He also gave a special shoutout to the leadership qualities of other players including Max Pineda, Luchi Vazquez and Emilio Casas.
“These guys lead by example,” Whitfield said. “They’ve been good leaders and that’s a big reason why our defensive line in particular is so dominant. Emilio Casas is the guy that has kept this D-line playing their best football.”
Corley, a junior dedicated the win — and his late interception — to the fill-in head coach.
“Coach Whit has been awesome,” Corley said. “He pushes this team so much. He gets on everyone. But he does it when we need it the most. He’s the reason we won this game.”
He said this win was important in setting the tone for the rest of the season.
“Huge to get our first MEL win,” Corley said. “Feels great. This gets us going and pumped for our game against Wood next week. It’s our homecoming game, and I think everyone really wants to show up for it.”
It was River City’s homecoming night on Friday. The Patriots used the setting as their own fuel.
“I think we just used the energy from their crowd to our advantage,” Corley said. “Everyone knows how important it is to win on homecoming night, so I think we were excited to go into their house and beat them on their night.”
The Patriots came in having lost three straight, including a 36-0 hammering against decades-long MEL powerhouse Vacaville. There was also a 39-14 loss to Sacramento High in MEL play. Vacaville, Sacramento and first-place Rodriguez of Fairfield are all in the league title hunt.
River City has weathered its own storm. The Raiders defeated Wood of Vacaville, 35-34, on Sept. 27. It was a bonus for a team with adversity, out multiple quarterbacks due to injuries. Senior tight end Jay Gardner has taken the reins at quarterback.
The Raiders scored Friday on a 7-yard rush from junior Xavier Amour and a 25-yard field goal from junior Matthew Geivett. They face Rodriguez at home next week.
Both teams are looking to improve on disappointing ends to last season. Pioneer fell to Hilmar in the quarterfinals of Division V playoffs, while River City missed the playoffs after losing their final regular season contest.
“We just take it game by game,” Whitfield said. “Our goal is to go 1-0 every week.” He added with a laugh: “If we can do that, I think we’re in pretty good shape.”