Pittsburg beats the rain, Manteca, wins NorCal D1-A championship

PITTSBURG, Calif. — A gentle rain and chill would appear to place the passing group at a drawback. 

It didn’t. 

Pittsburg, with a potent passing assault with four-star quarterback Jaden Rashada and a bunch of Division 1 dedicated receivers, confirmed as soon as once more it’s a full group Saturday night time within the CIF North Regional Division 1-A championship sport in opposition to run-oriented Manteca. 

Rashada, a Florida commit who will face all kinds of climate situations in school, accounted for 3 touchdowns, rugged sophomore operating again Elijah Bow ran for 2 and the quick, bodily protection did the remaining in an entire 35-14 victory. 

Enjoying with much more emotion for 21-year coach Vic Galli, the Pirates (12-2) will meet the the South Regional winner between Liberty-Bakersfield at Yorba Linda in subsequent week’s state title sport at Saddleback School in Mission Viejo. 

Galli introduced a month in the past that this might be his final season. . 

Rashada gave Pittsburg a 7-0 lead on its first drive, going 48 yards in 12 performs capped by his 2-yard keeper with 6:23 left within the first quarter. 

From there, the Manteca sluggish roll took its drip. 

Using their deadly Wing-T assault, the Buffaloes held the ball for the rest of the quarter and greater than three minutes of the second. 

Florida State-bound Nichelson capped an 80-yard drive with a 3-yard plunge and after his 2-point conversion, the Buffaloes led 8-7 with 8:45 left within the half. 

Nichelson got here in with monster numbers, having amassed practically 2,300 yards from scrimmage and 40 touchdowns. 

After a Pittsburg 3-and-out, Manteca tightened it is vice grip as soon as extra, holding the ball for an additional six minutes earlier than the Pirates stopped Nichelson on 4th down on the Pittsburg 35. 

With solely 50 seconds left within the half, and the rain persisting, Manteca’s halftime edge appeared safe. 

However Rashada discovered Zach Card on a 40-yard reception, establishing the identical connection for a go forward landing. 

Rashada lofted a excessive go to the left nook of the tip zone that Card made a outstanding diving catch beneath heavy duress with 11.1 seconds left within the half. 

That gave Pittsburg a 14-8 lead in a half they’d the ball maybe eight of 24 minutes. 

The Pirates took full management within the third, placing the ball largely within the palms of Bow, a tricky, punishing 5-foot-9, 190-pound sophomore. He scored on TD runs of three and 1 yards giving Pittsburg a 28-8 lead. 

Bryson Davis’ 2-yard TD run lower the result in 28-14 getting into the fourth, however Rashada put a bow on it with a 12-yard TD dash early within the fourth. 

He leaped into the tip zone and shortly after, the raucous Pittsburg celebration was on. 

All pictures from Dennis Lee