Pirates rout Panthers 54-20 for third win of the year, clinching eligibility for Central Section playoff berth
Coming off a high-scoring loss to Atascadero in its Sunset League opener, the Santa Ynez High football continued to pile up yards and points on Oct. 18, beating visiting Pioneer Valley 54-20.
In a night that culminated the school’s Go Pink week (the SYHS players wore pink socks), the Pirates put up a season-high in points, getting their first league win. It was also their third win of the year, which made them eligible for the CIF Central Section playoffs.
Santa Ynez took it to Pioneer Valley mainly with its ground attack, as the Pirates rushed for 262 yards. Griffin Brunner eclipsed the century mark in rushing for the second straight week, gaining 130 yards and scoring two touchdowns. Quarterback Jade Pritchard contributed with 66 yards rushing and scored four touchdowns.
On defense, the Pirates stiffened up in the second half, allowing just seven points after halftime. Ben Flores (15 tackles) and Ryder McClurg (11 tackles) led the way for the Pirates, while Max Andrade (interception), Jack Swain (interception), and Jaxon Glover (fumble recovery) had key turnovers.
Pirates head coach Josh McClurg said his team intended to establish the run immediately.
“They gave us some looks on defense we hadn’t seen, so we started off with some plays we knew would work,” Pirates head coach Josh McClurg said. “We got a couple of one-off plays, and then we started taking what they gave us and just waited to get into a groove offensively.”
The Panthers gave the Pirates a short field right at the start when they tried to surprise SYHS with an onside kick to start the game. However, the Pirates recovered at their own 49, and after a long pass play, Rider McClurg took it in from 8 yards out for the first score. Then, after a shanked Pioneer Valley punt gave the Pirates another short field, Pritchard took it from 11 yards out for a 12-0 lead.
The Panthers made a game of it in the second quarter, scoring a TD and two field goals, while Brunner scored on a 6-yard run and Pritchard took it in on the 2-point attempt for a 20-13 Pirates lead at the half.
Santa Ynez then broke it open with 21 points in the third quarter, as Pritchard scored three TDs in the period, while Brunner added a touchdown, and backup QB Glover threw a touchdown to Roman Soto to close out the scoring.
“The important thing is we got that third win to get into the postseason,” Coach McClurg said after the game. “We got that monkey off our backs.”
The game on Oct. 18 was the annual Go Pink game in recognition of Cancer Awareness Month and to help fundraise for a local Pirate parent Trish Robinson, whose son is a former Pirates player and daughter is currently a cheerleader. Robinson is fighting a rare connective tissue disease attacking her lungs called anti synthetase syndrome with overlapping inflammatory myositis.
The game included fundraisers like a bake sale, and a raffle for items provided by the Santa Ynez High School Football Boosters, with all proceeds going to Robinson in her fight against the disease.
A week after their win over Pioneer Valley, played their second straight home game, and last of the season, and suffered a 42-9 defeat at the hands of San Luis Obispo High.
The Tigers amassed 342 yards on the ground for the night, with running back Colbin Garrison gaining 203 of those yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns.
The Pirates actually struck first as Diego Pulido, now limited to kicking duties after and early-season injury, kicked a 29-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead. However, the Tigers struck back early and often, scoring three first-quarter touchdowns, and never looked back.
Austin Boucher scored on a 3-yard run in the second quarter for the Pirates, but SYHS would be shut out the rest of the way.
The loss dropped Santa Ynez to 3-6 (1-2 in the Sunset League), pending the Pirates regular-season finale at Righetti last Friday, Nov. 1. CIF playoff pairings were released on Sunday, and the Pirates will have a first-round road game this Friday, Nov. 8. To find out where and against who, see santaynezvalleystar.com.
Feature image: Santa Ynez High quarterback Jade Pritchard is congratulated by teammates after scoring one of his four touchdowns Oct. 18 in the Pirates’ 54-20 win over Pioneer Valley. Photo by Mike Chaldu.
