COLUSA COUNTY, CA (MPG) – With the completion of the first round of the Northern Section CIF football playoffs last Friday night, two of the county’s four teams advanced to the semifinal round, while the other pair saw their season’s come to an end.
Pierce, the No. 4 seed in Division III rallied from four points down at halftime to defeat No. 5 Yreka 33-22, while in Division V No. 2 Maxwell won by forfeit over No. 7 Quincy.
Meanwhile, in Division IV, No. 4 Colusa was upset by No. 5 Durham 0-18 and No. 8 Williams fell 6-47 to No. 1 Winters.
A depleted Bears’ squad, playing without starting quarterback Austin Jorge, who suffered what turned out to be a season-ending injury in the second to last regular season game, also lost its top rusher Nate Macintosh against Yreka but still stepped it up to come away with the victory.
Coach Anthony Tapia reported that kicker Francisco Ruiz kept Pierce in the game with a pair of field goals when the Bears were struggling to find points in the second and third quarters and then said he was particularly proud of a fourth quarter 85-yard drive that his team put together to take the lead.
Pierce then put the game out of completely out of reach after Quin Stephens forced a fumble that was scooped up by Rodrigo Velazquez, who raced 40 yards for the score.
Colin Dye took over at quarterback for the Bears, throwing for 59 yards then also ran for 64 more yards and two touchdowns.
Despite his early exit, Macintosh ended his night gaining 62 yards on 13 carries and scoring once.
Defensively, Stephens and Michael Acevedo recorded two sacks apiece.
As a result of the win, Pierce (10-1) finds itself in Gridley tonight to face the No. 1 seeded Bulldogs (11-0).
For Maxwell (8-3), whose game was canceled after Quincy was unable to field a team due to ramifications stemming from disciplinary actions surrounding a previous contest, head coach Lane Davis says he’s not sure if lay off is good or bad for his team, but knows that anytime the Panthers square off against Biggs (7-4), tonight’s opponent, it’s going to be a battle.
Winners of tonight’s games will advance to the championship in their respective divisions which will be played Nov. 26 at the higher seed’s home field.