By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Pitman Pride edge CHS football team
Placeholder Image
Derrick Goblirsch passed for 289 yards and a score, Cruz Flores and Dingko Luangchai each had more than 100 yards receiving, and Ryan Leazer scored two touchdowns. But it wasn't enough to lead the Ceres High football team past Pitman at Joe Debely Stadium in Turlock Friday night.

The Pride overcame a seven-point, halftime deficit and held on for a 33-25 victory over the Bulldogs.

"We have to learn how to close out a game," Flores said.

The Bulldogs committed no turnovers but were penalized seven times for 95 yards. An illegal block negated Leazer's 19-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Ceres also dropped a handful of passes.

Pitman managed to win despite being penalized 12 times for 160 yards and losing two fumbles.

Ceres fell to 1-2 overall. Pitman improved to 3-0 overall.

The Bulldogs will play on the road against the Golden Valley Cougars on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Ceres gained 384 yards of offense in the game.

Flores caught a career-high nine passes for 126 yards.

Luangchai caught a career-high 6 passes for 120 yards.

Leazer ran for 79 yards on 18 carries.

Pitman rolled up 386 total yards of offense, including 300 on the ground.

Anthony Harding ran for 219 yards on 24 carries and scored three touchdowns.

Mark Runyan had 59 yards rushing on 10 carries.

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick completed 4 of 10 passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns.

Jordan Inabnit accounted for two of Pitman's scores, including one receiving and passing.

The Bulldogs took a 7-0 lead on Leazer's 31-yard touchdown and Brandon Gresham's point-after-attempt kick with 3:19 remaining in the first quarter.

The Pride tied the score at 7-7 as Harding scored from 22 yards out on a run and Justin Barrera booted the PAT with 3:01 remaining in the second quarter.

Ceres responded with a seven-play, 75-yard scoring drive.

Goblirsch completed four straight passes, including two to Luangchai and two to Flores.

Following two incomplete passes, Goblirsch threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Luangchai. Gresham's PAT put the Bulldogs ahead 14-7 with 1:32 remaining in the first half.

In the third quarter, Pitman got within one point, 14-13, on Inabnit's 34-yard pass play to Harding on a fake punt.

Ceres drove to the Pitman 5 on its subsequent possession. Gresham's 26-yard field goal gave the Bulldogs a 17-13 lead with 1:38 left in the third quarter. The drive lasted 7 minutes, 39 seconds. Goblirsch completed five passes.

Pitman scored 20 unanswered points in the span of 9:24 in the fourth quarter.

Runyan had a 6-yard touchdown run, Inabnit hauled in a 31-yard touchdown pass from Kaepernick and Harding added a 45-yard touchdown run.

Runyan's score gave Pitman its first lead of the game.

The Pride stopped the Bulldogs on fourth down and forced a punt prior to increasing their lead to 33-17 on Harding's score.

Leazer's 5-yard touchdown run and Goblirsch's 2-point conversion pass to Luangchai cut Pitman's lead to 8, 33-25, with 2:14 remaining. Luangchai hauled in a 40-yard pass from Goblirsch to help set up the score.

Ceres' defense stopped Pitman's offense on fourth down with less than a minute remaining.

The Bulldogs got the ball back at the Ceres 40 with 13 seconds left in regulation.

Following a Pitman penalty, Goblirsch completed a 15-yard pass to Flores at the Pride 40.

Goblirsch spiked the ball to stop the clock. With one second remaining, he took the snap, avoided several pass rushers and lofted a hail-marry pass into the end zone, which fell incomplete.

"We were hoping for a miracle," Flores said. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier