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Pride fall to Jaguars in league finale
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Pitman's Jesse Gutierrez and Ben Vilhauer put pressure on Gregori's quarterback during the game Thursday evening (CANDY PADILLA/The Journal).

MODESTO — Pitman High’s team surrendered up a late fourth-quarter touchdown and, with it, the chance to secure the school’s first winning football season since 2018 as Gregori held on for a 28-21 Central California Athletic League win Thursday at Don Lanphear Stadium.

The loss evens the Pride’s overall record to 5-5, and they will need to win one of the Sac-Joaquin Section’s Division 2 bowl games to secure a winning record. A loss would result in a seventh consecutive sub-.500 campaign.

“We’ve got to learn to win these types of games,” said Pitman first-year head coach Braden Plaa, whose team gave up a 7-yard TD pass from quarterback J.J. Brawley to Jkai Ramos with 29 seconds to snap a 21-21 tie. “But we’ve got another opportunity next week.

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Pitman's RJ Wilharm runs the ball during the game Thursday night against Gregori (CANDY PADILLA/The Journal).

The Pride entered Thursday’s game No. 12 in MaxPreps’ Division 2 section rankings. The rankings will be updated this morning, putting the D-2 bowl picture into clearer focus.

Mason Helwick, who rushed for 164 yards on 32 carries six days after going for 265 against Enochs, scored on a 5-yard burst to make it 21-all with 7:45 remaining in the game.

Gregori drove to the Pride’s 23 where it faced a fourth-and 3. Brawley kept the ball and faked an option pitch, but end Jaiden Brown wasn’t fooled, and tackled Brawley a yard short of the first-down marker.

“My job was to stay with the quarterback,” the 6-foot-1, 200-pound junior said. “Whether he faked the pitch or not, that was my only job. I just had to stay disciplined.”

Pitman took over on its 21 with 5:48 to play, and moved to the 38 before the drive stalled, resulting in a punt.

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Jordan Riley, Xadian Padilla and Dante Jenkins stop their Gregori opponent from gaining yards during the game Thursday evening (CANDY PADILLA/The Journal).

The Jags took over on their own 32 with 94 seconds to play, and Brawley promptly hit Francisco Huerta for a 30-yard gain up the visiting sideline. On the next play, Brawley connected with Chris Knight for a 33-yard gain to the 5. Two plays later, Ramos cashed in from the 2 to make it 28-21 with 29 seconds left.

Gregori was offside on the ensuing kickoff and Pitman had decent field position for the final seconds of the contest. Wilharm completed 5-yard gainers to Jaevion Burch and Helwick to get the ball to the 41, followed by a 7-yard pick-up to Jayden Machado with 17 seconds left.

Running out of time, Wilharm was forced to go for broke, and his final attempt was picked off by Jasaun McDaniel at the Gregori 35.