In a game with just two combined punts, 97 combined points, and
1,070 combined yards of total offense, the Pioneer football team
dropped a wild home opener 62-35 (box score) Saturday to
the visiting Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens. Ryan Kostecka and Shawn Evans
each had over 100 reception yards for the Pioneers.
The Pioneers drew first blood, taking their opening drive 60
yards on 11 plays, culminating in a 13-yard rush from Harrison
Keller (sophomore, San Luis Obispo, Calif.) to the end zone to give
the Pioneers a 7-0 lead. Pomona answered on their first possession,
using 10 plays to go 58 yards yards with their quarterback rushing
for the final 34-yards over three plays to tie the game at 14.
The Pioneers were driving on their second possession when an
interception gave the ball back to the Sagehens. After the Pioneers
stopped PP's first two attempts from within the five, the Sagehens
punched it in on third down to take a 14-7 lead.
The Pioneers first drive of the second quarter resulted in their
only punt of the game. Pomona got the ball back on their 28-yard
line, taking it the length of the field to take a 21-7 lead.
A 35-yard completion from AJ Brown (senior, Vancouver, Wash.) to
Ryan Kostecka (sophomore, Napa, Calif.) highlighted the Pioneers
next drive. AJ Brown scored on a quarterback keeper from the one
yard line to make it a 21-14 game.
After a facemask penalty on the end of the kickoff return gave
Pomona the ball at the L&C 32, it took just 1:15 for Pomona to
find the endzone again and take a 28-14 lead.
The Pioneers scored on their next possession, with AJ Brown
connecting with Shawn Evans (sophomore, Boring, Ore.) on a
four-yard toss with 1:36 remaining in the half to pull within a TD
at 28-21, the score the two teams took into the break.
Pomona started the second half with the football and with
another rushing TD for their quarterback, putting PP up 35-21. A
24-yard rush by Joevonte Mayes (sophomore, Milwaukie, Ore.)
followed by a 19-yard rush that ended in the endzone made the game
35-28.
After another Pomona touchdown, the Pioneers were driving when
they fumbled the ball after a catch, giving the Sagehens another
scoring opportunity. They punched the ball in from two-yards out a
minute and a half into the fourth quarter to go up 49-28.
The Pioneers scored on a 20-yard pass from AJ Brown to Ryan
Kostecka with eigh minutes remaining in the game to make it a 49-35
lead for Pomona. Less than a minute later, Pomona had a 33-yard
completion in the endzone to go up 56-35. Pomona added one last
score with 4:39 remaining in the game to take a 62-35 lead.
The Pioneers attempted a 41-yard field goal with seconds left on
the clock, but missed, making the final score 62-35 in favor of
Pomona.
AJ Brown was 14-29 passing for 265 yards. He had two
interceptions and two touchdown throws. Brown also rushed for a
touchdown. Ryan Kostecka had his second 100-yard receiving game of
the season with 108 yards on four catches. Shawn Evans had 118
receiving yards on seven catches. Joevonte Mayes has 120
all-purpose yards, including 99 rushing.As a team, the Pioneers had
499 yards of total offense, 265 passing and 234 rushing.The
97-combined points is the second-highest combined total in Pioneer
football history.
On defense, Matt Meacham (senior, Roseville, Calif.) had his
first double-digit tackle game since changing to the defensive side
of the ball, posting 10 solo tackles and six assisted. Shawn Kelly
(sophomore, Clackamas, Ore.) had 14 tackles (9 solo, five
assisted). Angus Blair (sophomore, St. Helens, Ore.) had 10
tackles, including a sack.
The Pioneers have a bye week next week before they head into
homecoming weekend. They will host Pacific Lutheran at 12:30 pm on
October 4.
