Atascadero at Pioneer Valley Game

 

Mon.-Mon., April 19-26, 2021

A good week that was highlighted by our first overnight trip in I don't know how long.

If you recall, I was asked to journey about two hours north of Camarillo on two occasions this past September and October to give coaching clinics to the staff at Pioneer Valley H.S. on the topics of the Delaware Wing-T offense, the Kicking Game and Program Organization.

The Panthers had only won one game in 2019 and wanted to make the necessary changes to turn their program in the right direction during this unique pandemic countermeasure Spring high school football season.

After having their first two games cancelled due to a positive Covid-19 test on their team, the Panthers had enjoyed a good season with wins over Mission Prep (13-6) and cross town rival Santa Maria (34-14). Their lone loss, and a close one at that, this Spring was to Ocean League Champion Nipomo (13-21).

Thus Laurie and I headed north to see the Panthers play their last game of the season, at home vs. the Atascadero Greyhounds.

We opted to drive up slowly on Friday morning to enjoy distance-appropriate stops in Solvang, Los Olivos and Pismo Beach before settling into our digs at the Historic Santa Maria Inn before the scheduled 6:00 p.m. Kickoff.

The Greyhounds were 0-5

going into this contest

As stated, the Panthers were 2-1

going into the game

The pre-game article in the Santa Maria Times stated that this should be an easy victory for the Pioneer Valley squad.

Bulletin board material for Atascadero and a source of fodder for overconfident teenage Panther minds as well. I thought that it could be a factor in the game, especially in the early going.

But first, let's take a look at delightful Solvang, the Danish themed city in California's Central Coast area.

Laurie and I back in the 1960s?

Laurie and I today perhaps

Everyone was wearing their

face masks including this fellow

MAGICAL!!!

We had a solid breakfast in Solvang that included an order of that Danish treat, æbleskiver! Afterwards, some shopping was the call of the morning first in Solvang and then about seven miles away in Los Olivos.

We also did some much needed strolling through Pismo Beach before eating an early dinner at one of our favorite spots, Mo's BBQ.

It was nearing game time so we were off to Pioneer Valley H.S. to meet Nicole Beck, the wife of the Panthers' Head Coach John Beck who had our hard-to-get tickets to the contest that had limited fans allowed in due to the pandemic.

Panthers in black warming up

A successful on-side KO by Atascadero

to start the game

It was just the spark that an 0-5 Atascadero squad needed to start a game that was billed as an easy victory for Pioneer Valley by the media.

The Greyhounds looked like

anything but an 0-5 club

in the first half

The underdog Greyhounds showed a lot of grit in leading 12-7 at the end of the First Quarter and only trailing 14-12 at Halftime.

Then the Panthers got serious.

In the Third Quarter, Pioneer Valley dominated by scoring 26 unanswered points to extend their lead to 40-12 after 36 minutes of play.

An early Fourth Quarter TD called for a running clock and the Panthers ended their season with a 47-12 victory and a 3-1 record, a far cry from their 1-9 during their last campaign in 2019.

As for the now 0-6 Greyhounds, they have one more game this coming Friday at home against the 4-2 Paso Robles Bearcats.

After a good night's sleep in the Historic Santa Maria Inn, we were scheduled to take another leisurely drive home, this time driving through the Lompoc Valley before stopping in Buellton for lunch at the Hitching Post for some amazing BBQ ribs.

We had a problem.

The 1-0 Varese Skorpions were

playing the 1-0 Cernusco Daemons

at 9:30 a.m. Pacific Daylight Savings

time and it was being live streamed

It was also the Skorpions first game in

Varese's large velodrome/soccer stadium

 

So, what to do?

We watched the First Quarter in our hotel room before heading on our way home.

When we arrived at the hitching post about an hour later, the game was mysteriously still in the last gasps of the Second Quarter. I've been led to believe that injuries to both teams was the reason for slow pace of the game.

We cracked open a bottle of

Laurie's favorite wine before

the ribs arrived

At this point we made the conscious decision that while I enjoyed my one glass, Laurie would finish the bottle while we both watched the Second Half of the Skorpions game on my phone.

A glass of wine, a game on the phone,

BBQ ribs and an ostrich farm in behind

me . . . WHAT MORE COULD ONE WANT?

Well, how about a stirring come from

behind victory for your

favorite Italian DII team?

The Varese eleven were down 13-14 with about three minutes left in the game when lightning struck in the form of a miracle TD pass, a successful two-point conversion pass and then a pick-six with a positive PAT kick to seal the deal!

The normal DII season is an eight game affair, this year with teams opting out, only six contests make up the Skorpions Girone (League) B slate.

The Skorpions and Daemons appear to be the class of the Girone so this win by 14 points is huge!

The two teams will meet again on June 6th in Cernusco. It should be a great one again I suspect.

2-0 is a GOOD thing!

Mary got a surprise Build-a-Bear

from her Daisy Scouts on Sunday

for her efforts in the annual

Girl Scouts Cookies sales efforts

She named her Daisy.