14 Nov Pittsburg High Runs Away With Win Against Rival Antioch High

Pittsburg Pirates senior running back Jamar Searcy, in white and orange, returns the opening kickoff for a touchdown, quickly setting his team up for an easy win over Antioch.

Story and photos by Joe Porrello

The Pittsburg High-Antioch High varsity football rivalry remains one-sided, yet fiery, for at least another year.

“It’s super historical… two of the oldest schools in the county; it’s a big thing,” said third-year Panthers head coach Brett Dudley. 

Plundering Antioch High’s senior night on the last regular season game of the year with a 57-16 beatdown on Friday, the Pirates have won 10 straight in the head-to-head matchup. Antioch High is 2-21 since 2004 when taking on their neighboring city. 

Other teams fare just as poorly against the PIrates, who are ranked No. 19 out of over 1,000 high schools in California and No. 82 nationally. Winning six consecutive games by a combined score of 311-51, their only loss (9-1) came at St. John Bosco High, ranked No. 2 in the state and No. 7 in the country.

 

Antioch High contrarily broke their own three-game win streak, due in large part to surrendering more points than they had all year. On the other side of the ball, the Panthers also scored more than all but two Pittsburg High opponents have.

The Pirates spread the spoils — with eight touchdowns by seven players — and never let up after coming out just about as explosive as possible.

Senior Pittsburg High running back Jamar Searcy returned the opening kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown and his team’s defense didn’t allow a Panthers first down the ensuing drive, forcing them to punt. A two yard run into the end zone courtesy of senior running back Elijah Bow followed shortly after, giving the Pirates a two-score lead in only about five minutes of game time.

“Everyone knows (Pittsburg High) is one of the best teams in the state,” said Dudley. “They score so fast… they’re up on teams before they even touch the ball.”

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Subsequent to another Panthers punt, Pittsburg High senior quarterback Marley Alcantara connected with junior wide receiver Truly Bell for a 10-yard passing touchdown, making the score 21-0 before first quarter’s end. Alcantara holds a 149.5 quarterback rating with 1,945 air yards and 29 passing touchdowns this season.

Any Panthers momentum garnered by a 20-yard touchdown throw from sophomore Jelani Carter to senior wide receiver Kha’mahri Jones was expeditiously snuffed out by Pittsburg High.

The Pirates answered with their second kickoff return for a touchdown — this time from 74 yards out via freshman wide receiver Kenneth Ward — then recovered a proceeding onside kick.

 

Keeping their foot on the gas in the emerging drive, Searcy crossed the goal line for a second time when he caught a pass from Alcantara from 60 yards out, bringing the score to 35-8 with 10 minutes still to play in the second quarter. 

“I’m more so upset about some things game plan-wise that we should have cleaned up,” said Dudley. “We had a strategy to take as much game clock off as possible and limit their possessions, but we didn’t help ourselves.”

Antioch High was halted again when Pittsburg senior safety Jadyn Hudson snagged his team-leading fourth interception. Alcantara snaked up the middle for a six-yard touchdown on the first play thereafter. 

With the teams separated by 34 points, the game clock was then continuously run to keep the score from getting out of hand and players safe in a matchup that was all but decided.

 

With a postseason game looming, Dudley says some Pirates starters sat out Friday to get fully healthy and that the team achieved its goal of avoiding any lasting injuries or ejections throughout the game.

The Panthers had a brief moment of celebration to start the final frame when Jones notched his second touchdown and the game’s third by virtue of kickoff return.

Playing safety on defense the resulting drive, Jones was told to leave the field for unsportsmanlike conduct, but his coach persuaded the referee to penalize instead of officially ejecting Jones. The senior will now be able to suit up for what could be his last high school game in their next matchup for the playoffs instead of ending his Panthers career on a sour note.

 

An Antioch High fumble scooped and scored by Pirates junior linebacker Caleb Sims capped off the touchdown frenzy.

 

In true rivalry fashion, Pittsburg High executed a two-point conversion up by 39 points with two minutes left in place of kicking an extra point. 

Pirates senior kicker Bryan Capetillo made all seven of his point-after attempts and is ranked No. 13 in the state with 53 total.

 

As the Panthers possessed the ball during the matchup’s waning seconds, Pittsburg High used all three of their time outs to stop the continuously running clock, despite the game being far out of reach — typically a sign of no love lost between teams. The two squads have faced one another more than any other opponent over the last two decades.

Postgame, though, players and coaches from both teams embraced each other — some even took pictures together.

 

“The rivalry is good when both teams are good,” said Dudley. “They’re great and we’re a young team that’s trying to get better.”

Antioch High’s roster features 44 total players — the Pirates have 42 seniors.

 

“I’ve been a part of it when this place was completely sold out, when Najee (Harris) was in high school and everybody wanted to be here,” said Dudley, who was with the team as offensive coordinator from 2013-2021 before taking over the lead job.

Harris is now an NFL Pro Bowler with the Pittsburgh Steelers and was on the Antioch High roster in 2015 when they last beat the Pirates.

Capping off another undefeated regular season (5-0) facing Bay Valley League opponents, Pittsburg High extended its win streak to 31 games over six years. The Pirates have not endured a losing record in league play or overall in more than two decades.

 

Even with the defeat, Antioch High finished their fourth consecutive winning campaign in the BVL at 3-2. 

Both teams know where they are playing, but waiting to find out who their first round playoff opponent is. Each will have a chance to capitalize on their respective trends.

With little luck playing at home, going 1-4 this year, the Panthers will start their postseason run on the road, where they are 4-1. Pittsburg High awaits their opposition at home, where they are unbeaten this season and last at 15-0 combined.