Pitman (3-2) senior running back Blake McBay rushed for 172 yards on 22 carries and a score and the Pride steamrolled through North Salinas High (2-2) at Rabobank Stadium on Friday night for a crucial road victory, 34-13.
“We were done being mediocre and we wanted to put an exclamation in the season and do it the right way heading into CCC. We came out here and did the best we could to come out ready,” said McBay after the win.“Our line came together and they really worked their butts off and kept driving all night.”
“I think we can play better. We did play better at times, but we gave away that score at the end with the twos and threes but it was a tough travel,” said Pitman head coach Tom Tyler. “Almost three hours and I am happy to be out here without too many injuries and the kids did a good job, real proud of them.”
The win marks Pitman's second straight victory on the road and is also the second consecutive game in which the Pride have notched 34 points or more, outscoring their opponents, 70-13, over the last two weeks.
“This win is real helpful, we just have to build on everything so we should give everyone hell after this,” said Tyler after the team's final preseason contest.
Pitman traveled to Salinas on Friday afternoon with the expectations of a battle and North High gave them a physical bout—for only one half.
After the first quarter, Pitman was up 14-0 after a 12-yard run for a score by McBay followed by a Devan Bass 9-yard touchdown reception with three minutes left in the first.
North High tacked on one of their only two scoring drives with 12 seconds left in the first half and the Pitman defense would not allow them to score again until the fourth quarter, notching 21 unanswered points
The Pride defense was fearless all night long, causing North High quarterback Tim Berkhardt to play an uncomfortable game from the pocket while sacking him over five times.
“I thought we threw the ball pretty well when we needed to and sometimes it fell apart, but we did make some mistakes at times, offensive mistakes little things and we have to fix that,” said Tyler.
The defense held North High to only 217 yards for the game and the Pride worked behind 389 yards of total offense.
“The line kept driving the whole night and the middle of the hole and gaps were open and I gave it my all, hitting the hole hard, that helped make it all happen,” said McBay. “We definitely needed this win, we wanted to get things rolling."
Pitman's next game will be the start of the Central California Conference and the Pride are scheduled to take on Buhach Colony at 7 p.m. Friday at Joe Debely Stadium.
