Piedmont gets win, heads to finale at Alameda on November 6.
Piedmont High School’s boys football team played what might be its best game of the season, defeating host Pinole Valley in a nonleague game on October 30, 31-16.
The Highlanders improved to 3-6 on the season and will face Alameda at Thompson Field on November 6 at 7 p.m. That will be a West Alameda County Conference Mission League game.
Piedmont put together a nice drive on the opening possession, going 80 yards in 10 plays with Rehan Mumtaz running the ball in from the 13.
The defense forced a turnover on the Spartans first possession with Gael Fierro picking off Cash Herbert and returning the ball to the Highlanders 37. Piedmont drove down to the Pinole Valley 5 with a first-and-goal but had to settle for a 26-yard field goal from Ben Gerger and a 10-0 lead.
Henry Brennan forced a fumble by Marcel Baptiste on the ensuring kickoff and Gerale Bradley fell on it for Piedmont. That set up a four-yard touchdown run by Vaha Mafi and it was 17-0.
That was the score at halftime. Late in the third quarter, the Highlanders went on another long drive. This time it was 10 plays and 73 yards and led to a six-yard touchdown run by Colby Hong.
Pinole Valley (3-6) finally got on the board in the fourth quarter when Herbert scored on a seven-yard scramble. He also ran in the two-point conversion and it was 24-8.
A 32-yard kickoff return by Mumtaz and a personal foul on the play set Piedmont up at the Spartans 47. That led to Mafi icing the game with a two-yard touchdown run.
Herbert hooked up with Baptiste on a 60-yard touchdown pass late. Jayden Traylor caught the Herbert pass for the two-point conversion, but Piedmont then ran the clock out.
The Highlanders had 309 yards in total offense to 241 for the Spartans. Piedmont got 194 yards on 35 rushes with Mumtaz leading the way with 84 yards on 13 carries. Mateo Long had three carries for 66 yards while Mafi had 38 yards on 13 carries.
Cyrus Emanuelson completed 10 of 17 passes for 115 yards. Long caught six balls for 61 yards. Most important, Piedmont had no turnovers.
Mafi had six solo tackles on defense including one for loss. Mason Gray had four solo tackles.
Herbert was the leading rusher for Pinole Valley with 61 yards on seven carries. He was 12 for 28 as a passer for 172 yards.
Terius Olmos had nine solo and two assisted tackles for the Spartans.