09 Oct Pinole Valley High Football Rides ‘Gus Bus’ to Shutout

The Pinole Valley High Spartans take the field prior to their 19-0 win over Skyline High on Oct. 4. 

Story and photos by Joe Porrello

Pinole Valley High varsity football blanked Skyline High 19-0 at home Friday in the teams’ only head-to-head matchup over the last two decades.

Losing their last two games on the road at non-league stadiums, the Spartans used a familiar field to get off the schneid. 

 

“Our team pride starts with defending our home turf,” said Pinole Valley High head coach Troy McConico. 

The Spartans have now won three straight home games, dating back to last season, by a combined score of 73-7.

 

Leading the way for Pinole Valley, sophomore running back Gus Georgopoulos — known to some of his teammates as “Gus Bus” — ran in all three of the game’s touchdowns. He had never before scored on varsity.

“It feels good to get out there and compete at a high level, but I couldn’t have done it without my teammates,” said Georgopoulos.

On defense, the Spartans bent but never broke — earning their second shutout in the last three matchups at home. They haven’t given up more than 23 points this season, surrendering an average of just 12.4 points per game.

Still, their coach isn’t satisfied.

“I’m proud of the shutout, but it was too sloppy,” said McConico. “We have a lot to clean up because we have big goals for this team.”

 

The miscues began immediately, as Pinole Valley turned the ball over before their offense took the field. Muffing the opening kickoff, then picking it up and returning it across midfield, the Spartans fumbled the ball and it was recovered by Skyline.

After forcing a punt, Pinole Valley scored on their first offensive possession when Georgopoulos rumbled into the endzone from about 10 yards out. 

The Spartans’ ensuing drive on offense resulted in an interception, followed by Skyline’s longest play of the game on a run for about 40 yards. The Titans had their drive stalled by penalties before punting for a third time in the opening frame.

 

Both teams committed numerous infractions with many yellow flags thrown — the majority of which stemmed from unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness calls. 

“I was happy with the outcome but not everything that happened on the field… the penalties; it got way too personal,” said Spartans senior tight end Dean Ryan. “I just want to go out and play football without all the extra stuff.”

 

McConico says his team has to be more mature in similar situations moving forward.

In the second quarter, a Titan was penalized for pushing a Pinole Valley player from behind, and tempers rose on both sides.

 

Each team only had one possession in the second frame, as Skyline drained the clock by running the ball about 15 consecutive times before time expired as they were one yard from the end zone.

 

The Spartans grew their lead to 13 late in the third quarter, when Georgopoulos got pushed through a pile of defenders by his linemen and over the goal line for his second touchdown.

After the Titans were compelled to punt a fifth time, then turned the ball over by throwing an interception, Georgopoulos secured the win and a touchdown hat trick on Pinole Valley High’s final offensive possession.

 

“I’m thankful,” said McConico. “It was a good, solid win after we lost close ones back to back.”

Both of the Spartans’ losses were by single digits, while their three wins all came by double digits. The 19 points Pinole Valley High accumulated Friday nearly matched their season average of 19.75.

Contrarily, Skyline High has been outscored by a combined 111 points, held scoreless in all three of their road games, and only scored seven points in their last four matchups. The Titans roster features just four seniors — who have had a different head coach every season and only won four games altogether over the previous two seasons.

The only winning season in league play or overall during the last five years for the Spartans came in 2022.

Roughly 300 fans were in attendance Friday, and the Spartans head coach says he hopes they can continue to grow the gametime atmosphere and home field advantage.

“We’re trying to bring the attention back that was here when myself and our other coaches played here,” McConico said.

Pinole Valley High looks to extend its home winning streak to four when they begin Tri-County-Rock League play against the Dons on Oct. 11. 

“It’s a big game coming up with De Anza, we got to tighten up and represent how we should,” said McConico.