Pioneer forced its way into a tie for second place in the Blossom Valley Athletic League Mount Hamilton "A" Division with an impressive 37-22 win at Leland Friday night. The victory vaults the Mustangs (3-3, 2-1 in the BVAL-MH) into a second-place tie with Leland (3-3, 2-1) and the winner of Saturday's Santa Teresa-Sobrato game. The loss snapped the Chargers' three-game winning streak.
Dominic Barnes rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns and Ethan Stanton added 92 yards on nine carries as Pioneer overcame a slow start offensively to post a big victory. In the first half, the Mustangs flashed the type of defense that was instrumental in their 36-0 win over Independence last week, leading 3-0 at the end of the first quarter and 10-7 at the break.
Junior kicker Oswaldo Orozco got the Mustangs on the board with a 40-yard field goal and Barnes extended the lead to 10-0 with a two-yard run early in the second quarter. Leland senior running back Jack Pizzo brought the Chargers to within 10-7 with a one-yard run in the second quarter.
The Mustangs opened up the offense with four touchdowns in the second half, including a big 55-yard run by Stanton that extended the lead to 23-7 at the end of the third quarter. However, the Chargers rallied back behind the play of junior quarterback Matt McLaughlin (14-of-21, 249 yards, 2 TDs), who tossed a pair of scoring passes to Matt Mohs (46, 50 yards) in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 30-22.
However, a 17-yard run by Pioneer senior RB Russell Neeley proved to be the cliner, as the Mustangs handed the Chargers their first loss since a Sept. 7 defeat at the hands of then No. 1 Mitty.
Both teams are back in action next weekend, as Leland visits Willow Glen Friday (7 pm) and Pioneer hosts Sobrato Saturday night (6 pm).
