Pittsburg Defense Shines, Advances to NCS Championship
Pittsburg advanced to its first NCS Championship since 2009. Photo by Cliff Jackson
By Chris Jackson Saturday November 29, 2014
PLEASANTON, CA-Bruising old school football made one NCS semifinals contest one for the ages.
The visiting Pittsburg Pirates got off to an early 10-0 lead and defeated the two seeded Foothill Falcons on the road,
10-7. The win puts Pittsburg in the NCS Division One championship next Saturday night at Dublin High School, where
they will face the number three team in the nation, De La Salle.
Pittsburg's quick 10-0 start appeared enough to get the victory until Foothill regrouped and become potent on both sides
of the ball. Kyle Kearns connected with Matt Gates for the 51-yard score as he barely got the pass off the blitz, cutting the
deficit to 10-7 late in the first half. All Foothill needed was one more score.
But the Pirates defense thought otherwise.
Foothill got the ball back at its own 23 midway through the fourth and had the momentum to take the lead. A four-yard
loss on a pass to Isaiah Floyd on the first play halted the drive and led to two incompletions from Kearns after. One more
opportunity arose, bringing a finals-like atmosphere to the stadium.
Following a critical defensive stop, Foothill took over at its own 20 and rapidly got the drive going. Two pass plays from
Kearns to Ruben Mercado started the drive and combined for 20 yards. Pittsburg's secondary held its ground, leading to
three straight incompletions from Kearns to end the Falcons' NCS championship hopes.
The SMU bound Kearns was contained most of the way but still managed to get 209 yards and a score, but the Pittsburg
defense forced a critical interception early on courtesy of Charlie Ramirez.
121 of the 209 yards from Kearns were reeled in from junior receiver Ruben Mercado, who also recorded 11 catches. He
was one of the few players to get past the stingy Pirates defense.
Pittsburg held junior speedster and three star recruit Isaiah Floyd to 45 total yards, with just 12 on the ground. He came
into the contest averaging 70 yards rushing per game and 8 yards a carry.
Alongside the stellar run defense, a key interception near the goal line was also a turning point in the contest as Foothill
was at the six yard line. Without the interception, this game could've gone into overtime and possibly had a different end
result.
Quarterback Keith Walker had the lone Pittsburg touchdown as he connected with Jordan Parker for the 29-yard touchdown,
giving it a 7-0 lead with 10 minutes left in the first half. That play was 29 of Walker's 71 yards through the air.
Walker's touchdown pass may not have been the most key play of the contest, however. On fourth and four at the Foothill 29,
he scrambled left for seven yards to give the Pirates the berth to the NCS championship.
The Pirates improved to 10-2 and earned its first NCS championship berth since 2009. They will look to end De La Salle's 22 consecutive NCS titles streak.
Foothill completed the season at 9-3 and won its first East Bay Athletic League title since 2006. With SMU bound Kyle Kearns
and USC commit Isaiah Langley graduating, the future for Foothill still appears bright with a talented junior class returning.
The visiting Pittsburg Pirates got off to an early 10-0 lead and defeated the two seeded Foothill Falcons on the road,
10-7. The win puts Pittsburg in the NCS Division One championship next Saturday night at Dublin High School, where
they will face the number three team in the nation, De La Salle.
Pittsburg's quick 10-0 start appeared enough to get the victory until Foothill regrouped and become potent on both sides
of the ball. Kyle Kearns connected with Matt Gates for the 51-yard score as he barely got the pass off the blitz, cutting the
deficit to 10-7 late in the first half. All Foothill needed was one more score.
But the Pirates defense thought otherwise.
Foothill got the ball back at its own 23 midway through the fourth and had the momentum to take the lead. A four-yard
loss on a pass to Isaiah Floyd on the first play halted the drive and led to two incompletions from Kearns after. One more
opportunity arose, bringing a finals-like atmosphere to the stadium.
Following a critical defensive stop, Foothill took over at its own 20 and rapidly got the drive going. Two pass plays from
Kearns to Ruben Mercado started the drive and combined for 20 yards. Pittsburg's secondary held its ground, leading to
three straight incompletions from Kearns to end the Falcons' NCS championship hopes.
The SMU bound Kearns was contained most of the way but still managed to get 209 yards and a score, but the Pittsburg
defense forced a critical interception early on courtesy of Charlie Ramirez.
121 of the 209 yards from Kearns were reeled in from junior receiver Ruben Mercado, who also recorded 11 catches. He
was one of the few players to get past the stingy Pirates defense.
Pittsburg held junior speedster and three star recruit Isaiah Floyd to 45 total yards, with just 12 on the ground. He came
into the contest averaging 70 yards rushing per game and 8 yards a carry.
Alongside the stellar run defense, a key interception near the goal line was also a turning point in the contest as Foothill
was at the six yard line. Without the interception, this game could've gone into overtime and possibly had a different end
result.
Quarterback Keith Walker had the lone Pittsburg touchdown as he connected with Jordan Parker for the 29-yard touchdown,
giving it a 7-0 lead with 10 minutes left in the first half. That play was 29 of Walker's 71 yards through the air.
Walker's touchdown pass may not have been the most key play of the contest, however. On fourth and four at the Foothill 29,
he scrambled left for seven yards to give the Pirates the berth to the NCS championship.
The Pirates improved to 10-2 and earned its first NCS championship berth since 2009. They will look to end De La Salle's 22 consecutive NCS titles streak.
Foothill completed the season at 9-3 and won its first East Bay Athletic League title since 2006. With SMU bound Kyle Kearns
and USC commit Isaiah Langley graduating, the future for Foothill still appears bright with a talented junior class returning.