PITTSBURG,CA--- Montaz Thompson and his trio of touchdowns helped the Pirates overcome a rough start, as Pittsburg went on to beat Archbishop Mitty 41-14 in a inter-sectional matchup.
Archbishop Mitty led 14-7 heading into the second half. However, that would quickly change as sophomore quarterback Trey Turner made a huge impact in only three plays after replacing Seu Kuka, beginning with a long screen pass to Thompson. Thompson then ran for 30 yards, setting up Turner for his 19-yard scramble into the end zone. The score tied the game early in the third quarter, and swung the momentum firmly in the Pirates' direction.
The Montaz Thompson show then opened its curtains, as he accumulated 56 yards on the next drive, including a four-yard touchdown which would put the Pirates up 21-14.
Senior Iffy Joyner was a monster on the defensive line, as he punished the Monarchs' running game by causing two forced fumbles, both of which would set up drives that would lead to two more touchdowns.
Michael Pryor added three sacks, and Thompson ran for 294 yards in the game, a strong start for someone who recorded Pittsburg's third-highest single-season rushing total last year.
“I kept on believing in my line,” Thompson said. “It was really following the blocks they provided me and I couldn’t let them down.”
The first half did open the way Pittsburg coach Vic Galli would have liked, with a lot of success in the first two quarters for visiting Mitty. They started their season off with a bang, as their opening drive would total 89 yards, with quarterback Phillip Tran capping the 11-play drive on a 16-yard scoring run.
“It was pretty scary and hairy to begin with," Galli said. “It was a tale of two halves as our defense and offense both stepped up.”
Pittsburg answered Mitty's initial score, when senior quarterback Seu Kuka emulated Tran by showing off his footwork, scoring from seven yards out behind a big block from offensive lineman DJ Wright to finish a 13-play drive, and tying the game at seven.
Mitty’s Austin Kause shut down Kuka and the Pirates' passing game as he intercepted him twice in the first half. One of the picks would lead to another scoring drive, when Tran launched a pass to Clay Crisafulli, who headed for the races and gained 42 yards before Tran would sneak his way into the end zone for a one-yard run.
Pittsburg will continue their early-season homestand as they take on James Logan, Friday, September 2nd at 7 pm, while Archbishop Mitty will have their home opener against Aptos at 7 pm on September 2nd.
