Tyler McGee / Roundup
The Pierce football team beat rival Los Angeles Valley College, 45-28, Saturday at Shepard Stadium.
Head food coach Efrain Martinez called the game, which was a fight for possession of the symbolic Victory Bell, “the biggest game since 1985.” The victory also set the Brahmas up for a showdown with Antelope Valley next week for the conference title.
Earlier in the season, Pierce lost to rival Valley College, 25-72.
Martinez’s tactic for victory: “We need to punch them in the mouth first.”
“We need to continue the trend,” Martinez said in reference to the Brahmas’ recent offensive surge.
Pierce came into the meeting with Valley ranked 14 in Southern California.
The rivalry between the two schools runs deep. Martinez and assistant coach Jason Sabolic both coached at Valley in the past.
“I love this place,” Martinez said. “I’m glad I’m here.”
Both teams had offensive troubles early under a full moon on Halloween, as their first drives ended on turnovers.
The troubles for Pierce quarterback Matt Wabby, who claimed he was “a little excited,” were prevalent early as he overthrew open receivers.
With the passing offense having trouble finding its stride early, the Brahmas turned to their run game to carry the load. With usual starting running back Prince Young sidelined with a leg injury, Pierce turned to backups Daniel Lopez and Alfred Taylor.
Lopez finished the game with 245 yards rushing and a touchdown on 35 carries. Taylor finished with 63 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
“The running backs ran real hard,” said Wabby, who credited the running game for the team’s performance.
Pierce would get on the board first as Taylor rushed into the Monarch end zone. Pierce was set up for the score when corner back Brandon Turner Intercepted his fourth pass of the season.
Turner was not done with spectacular defensive plays, as he would later strip the ball as a Valley player was being tackled and return it 80 yards.
After having his struggles, Wabby finished the game with three passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown, 336 yards passing and two interceptions.
After the final whistle blew, the Pierce team charged the Valley sideline like a herd of bulls to take the Victory Bell away from the Valley Monarchs.
“We played awful,” Martinez said after the game, “but we won.”
Martinez thinks the team lacked consistency.
“I feel sorry for the team we play when we put it together,” he said before the game.
The two rivals later engaged in a scuffle in the parking lot, needing coaches, players and campus sheriff’s deputies to separate the two sides.
“It was freaking idiots causing something,” Martinez said.
The intensity of the rivalry was prevalent throughout the game. The first offensive action was apparently started in the line of handshakes, after which Wabby said, “I got punched in the chest with a helmet by a Valley player.”
Martinez, giving respect to his opponents, said, “Antelope Valley is the team to beat.”
The Pierce record now stands at 6-2 overall and 5-0 in conference play. The team has won five games in a row.
Up next for the Brahmas is Antelope Valley Saturday at 7 p.m. at Shepard Stadium. The game is crucial, as the winner of the game is the Pacific Conference Champion and earns a bowl game.
Head Football Coach Efrain Martinez reacts from the team pouring a bucket of ice water on him after their win versus Los Angeles Valley College. Pierce Won 45-28. (Aisha Ahal / Roundup)
