PV rolls to win over Red Bluff
Vikings make it two in a row with a lopsided victory
RED BLUFF >> The Pleasant Valley Vikings, fresh off a double- overtime win against Chico last week, put up a big lead in the first half Friday night and held on for a 34- 6 win over the Red Bluff Spartans, who picked up a late touchdown to avoid the shutout.
When Vikings quarterback Ian Guanzon took it into the end zone from the Spartans’ 5 a little more than halfway through the first quarter, PV was up 14- 0.
The Spartans got some solid runs from quarterback Clyde Shaver and running back Braden Robinson to move the ball to midfield, but Caiden Wehbey took a sack and the drive fizzled. That was the story of the first half for the Red Bluff offense — promising drives that didn’t put points on the board.
Meanwhile, the Vikings had no such troubles turning drives into scores. Guanzon hit Cody Morris Morris for 43 yards to the Red Bluff 40 before throwing a strike to Sean Saise for a touchdown to put PV up 21- 0 to start the second quarter.
The closest the Spartans got in the first half was a field goal attempt from the 12, but a low snap precluded the kick. The defense played tough, making a handful of stops to put the ball back into the hands of Shaver and Wehbey. Red Bluff just couldn’t find a way to capitalize.
As time ran down in the half, Guanzon hit Saise for 60 yards and another score to send the teams to the half with PV up 27- 0 after a missed extra point.
Red Bluff’s woes continued to start the second half, when the team opened with a holding call, sack and
fumble, and were forced to punt from their own 4.
The Vikings didn’t fare any better, as both defenses stiffened to keep the score the same going into the fourth quarter.
Lachlan Dean hit Guanzon as he threw on fourth down and the Spartans took over on downs at their own 31. Shaver hit John Joslen on fourth and 21 to keep the drive alive, but the Spartans still couldn’t find the end zone.
Zach Willingham picked off Shaver and nearly had a pick six, taking it all the way to the Red Bluff 4. Gabe Ponce took it in for the score and it was 34- 0 Vikings.
Inside two minutes to play, Wehbey hit Joslen for 50 yards to the PV 12 and then took it to the 2 yard line on a keeper before Seth Miller barreled through the line to put the Spartans on the board. The PAT was blocked.
The Vikings were able to take a knee a couple of times to close out the win, 34- 6 and move to 2-1 on the season. They are scheduled to host Durham (3-2) April 22.
The Spartans fall to 2- 3 and finish the season April 22 at Chico.