New Florida commit Jaden Rashada, backup lead Pittsburg to NCS Open final, 55-22 over Antioch

Pittsburg’s lengthy anticipated wait to lastly dethrone De La Salle is right here. 

And after a 55-22 semifinal Open Division conquer Antioch, the Pirates seem totally armed. Actually. 

The Pirates’ four-star, current Florida commit Jaden Rashada performed only a half and accounted for 3 touchdowns en path to a 35-6 halftime lead. 

His backup, sophomore Marley Alcantara, who final week threw for 322 yards and 5 touchdowns in Rashada’s absence, threw three extra TD passes in 1 / 4 because the Pirates (10-1) superior to subsequent week’s Open championship at De La Salle, a 40-14 winner over James Logan-Union Metropolis. 

Many individuals thought Pittsburg earned the No. 1 seed and thus a house recreation, however contemplating De La Salle hasn’t misplaced to a NCS opponent in 31 years (the Pirates the truth is had been the final, 35-27 within the 1991 NCS 3A title recreation), maybe that was an element. 

Would not matter. The Pirates get an opportunity to knock off a De La Salle that has not simply beat Pittsburg 14 straight instances since 2004. However frankly, none have been very shut. 

The closes was a 24-7 defeat for the 2017 part crown. 

However that is historical historical past. Not solely do these Pirates have a high Division I quarterback, however 4 receivers who’ve both dedicated or been supplied D1 scholarships. And that is simply among the many seniors. 

Additionally they have an rising star sophomore operating again (Elijah Bow) and the highest 2025 recruit in California — Jadyn Hudson, a security and huge receiver. 

On high of that every one that, they’ve a number of inspiration to win for his or her widespread 21-year coach Vic Galli, who introduced he can be stepping down after this 12 months to give attention to his household. 

All the things was clicking for the Pirates on Friday, regardless of the bizarre circumstance of taking part in the identical group two weeks in a row, their rivals from the East. 

Oregon State-bound Zachary Card set the tone with a 60-yard landing run to begin the sport. Bow added a 10-yard TD run, then arrange Rashada’s first landing move — one in all two to Washington-bound Rashid Williams — with back-to-back 20-yard runs. 

Rashada, a lean and quick 6-foot-5, 195-pound senior, rolled to his proper on each TD passes to Williams of 12 and 9 yards, then capped off the half with a four-yard run to make it 35-6. 

It was an enormous week for Rashada, who in addition to coming off sickness, introduced Thursday he had switched his prior dedication to Miami and flipped to Florida. 

Alcantara, all of 5-8, however with a robust and correct proper arm, then placed on a present, threading the wanted on three absolute good TD passes — 36 yards to Card, 12 yards to Noah Quesada after which exceptional 26-yard rating to Mykel King. 

On the latter, he was chased virtually out of bounds whereas rolling proper. He put the ball the one place King might catch it. The 5-7 King made a superb catch. 

That gave Alcantara eight landing passes in lower than 5 quarters. 

Maybe he is making a quarterback controversy. 

That might convey a smile to the Pittsburg coach who will seemingly say, it is simply given the Pirates extra depth, reduction in case one thing occurs to Rashada and probabilities for maybe a trick play or two.