September 18, 2008

Friday Night Lights

Pioneer reigns at SJUSD’s first fall game under the lights

By Joe Proudman
Staff Writer

The sky around Pioneer High School was lit up on Friday night, while the Mustangs did their own lighting up of the field against rival Gunderson High School during the annual Bell Game. The Pioneer football team routed the Grizzlies 53-12 in their first home game under the lights.

The Pioneer Mustangs make their way onto the field to start the second half during their first home game with permanent lights. Photos by Joe Proudman

“Everybody played tonight, which was great,” said Mustang head coach and athletic director Mark Krail. “First game under the lights and it couldn’t have gone better.”

Pioneer was one of five high schools in the San Jose School District to play their first home game under lights. According to Krail, it has been a serious idea for five or six years. Since then it has passed through a vote of the San Jose Unified School District Board of Education after much community input.

Stadium lights have been installed at all San Jose Unified high schools. “Last year, the district administrative team and sites worked with the communities to ensure enthusiasm and support for the positive school and community climate that can result from Friday night lights,” according to a release from the district.

“It’s been a process,” said Krail.

“Friday night under the lights; it’s a dream come true.”

“It was a thrill,” said Mustang wide receiver Nick Sarabia about playing under lights at home. “The whole team enjoyed it, it was just exciting.”

While the stadium shinned bright in the sky, the Mustangs shinned on the field. In the first half alone, Pioneer racked up 40 points as running back Justin Souza scored three touchdowns, practically untouched, and quarterback R.J. Silvey adding his own 13-yard touchdown run, along with 232 yards passing.

“For the most part I’m pleased with the way we ran the ball,” said Krail. “I thought our defense played extremely well.”

Captains from both squads line up prior to the start of the second half, under the brand new stadium lights at Pioneer High School.

The first play of the game went for 52 yards as Silvey tossed a quick pass over the middle to tight end Travis Lorius who sprinted down to the Grizzlies’ 18-yard line. Several plays later it was Silvey scrambling his way out of trouble to find the end zone from 13 yards out.

On offense the only time Gunderson crossed midfield in the first half was to switch sides at the end of the first quarter. On both sides of the ball, Pioneer’s big men down front were able to control the line of scrimmage, with the offensive line just dominating Gunderson.

Pioneer’s next touchdown came when Silvey dumped a quick pass to Souza who sprinted 50 yards for the score. But the Mustangs and Souza were not done yet, as senior running back was able to glide into the end zone from 8 yards out after being set up by a Rob Artery reception in the red zone.

The Mustangs would score two more times in the half on an Artery 57 yard reception and a Jordan Sibbald 29-yard run.

“I thought our quarterback played well,” said Krail. “He’s fun and he has a good time playing football.”

“We wanted to work on throwing the ball tonight.”

With Pioneer up 40-0 to begin the half, Krail opted to play all reserves in the second half, getting the scout guys some real playing time.

They didn’t disappoint as Josh Magana ran back a kickoff after a Gunderson score and Shawn Cunniff bulldozed his way into the end zone from 5 yards out in the fourth quarter, which was set up by a Jeremy Dalton interception.

“We played all reserves in the second half,” said Krail. “It was a good opportunity for them and they did pretty well.”

The Bell Game originated 29 years ago, when Gunderson and Pioneer principals, Ralph Sleight and Ed Barrows, respectively, came up with the idea of a rivalry over the bell. Gunderson was the first bell winner in 1979 and continued to win it through the 1989 season. In 1990, the Santa Teresa Athletic League was reconfigured and the Grizzlies and Mustangs did not play each other again until 1996, when the Mustangs won the bell for the first time.

After a Pioneer touchdown, the Mustangs kickoff for the first time under the permant lights at Pioneer High School. Photo by Joe Proudman

The Grizzlies won it back in 1998 and 1999, but the Mustangs won it in 2000. Gunderson won it back in 2001, but the Mustangs took it back for the next three years. The two schools did not play each other in the ensuing two years, and this year, Pioneer won it back.

After five years of waiting and wanting, lights are finally up at Pioneer and several schools in San Jose’s school district.

“I’ve been telling people all week this is a dream come true,” said Krail. “There’s always more energy on Friday night. The stands were full and that’s where they (students) should be on a Friday night.”

But varsity wasn’t the only winner on Pioneer fields last Friday. The Mustangs’ frosh/soph team rolled to its second straight win to begin the season with a 48-0 victory over Gunderson Friday afternoon.

The Mustangs displayed a balanced offense attack gaining 122 yards through the air and 220 on the ground. The offensive was led by the strong blocking of Kody Kampfen and George Gonzales and the running of Curtis Tanquary and Brandon Henry, who had two touchdowns apiece. The passing game was lead by a pair of freshman with quarterback Dillon Borrego and receiver Connor Swearingen hooking up for a pair of scoring passes.

The defense for the second straight game earned a shutout and scored a touchdown, they were led by the strong play of Gabe Hernandez, Adil Charki and Dominic Dahbour. The Mustangs’ next game is Sept. 19 at 5 p.m. versus Terra Nova.

Dan Lefeber contributed to this article.