Pitman takes thriller in OT

TURLOCK -- The Pitman High football team was hoping for a better start in its season opener against Paradise on Friday night.

But it sure loved the finish.

After falling behind 14-0, the Pride rallied for two late touchdowns to force overtime, then won it 21-20 on Tyler Harris' extra-point kick in front of a crowd of about 2,000 at Joe Debely Field.

Pitman receiver Robert Beale scored two touchdowns off passes from Tyler Snodgrass, including a 10-yard scoring grab in overtime.

"You have to love our guys' resiliency," Pitman coach Brandon Harris said. "Paradise is an outstanding team and I thought our guys hung around well."

Paradise took a 14-0 lead on a touchdown with 7:28 left in the third quarter on an 11-yard run by Derrick Dysthe.

Beale put the Pride on the board when he caught a 25-yard scoring strike from Snodgrass with 3:30 left in the third. Markus Sanders tied it up with a 5-yard scoring run with 10 minutes left in regulation.

Neither team was able to score after that, sending the game into overtime. Dysthe scored from one yard out for Paradise on the first possession in overtime. But Aaron Ropp's extra-point kick went wide left.

In its possession, Pitman was unable to move the ball on its first three downs. But Snod-grass found a wide-open Beale up the middle from 10 yards out. Harris' kick set off a wild celebration at midfield.