Dennis Stubbs was concerned.
Pitman was coming off of one of its worst Central California Conference performances in years, and Stubbs believed a more focused Pride squad would try and take it out on Golden Valley.
In a way, Pitman did. At least offensively.
The Pride scored on six of its first eight possessions on Friday night at Veterans Stadium, racking up 399 rushing yards and not punting until there was 1 minute, 50 seconds, left in the game.
The Golden Valley offense kept the Cougars in it, but it wasn't enough in a 42-21 loss.
"We've been saying, 'If we just could get a stop,' a lot," Stubbs said. "Our offense isn't that bad.
"We just haven't been getting people off of the field. We had some opportunities tonight, but didn't get it done. The kids keep playing hard, and that's all we can ask."
Pitman (2-2 CCC, 7-2) put together drives of 85, 71 and 91 yards in the first half to build a 21-0 lead. Brent Nelle (101 yards), Mario Lewis (106) and Logan Wolfley (85) all ran the ball for scores.
The Cougars (0-4 CCC, 3-6) got going with their final possession of the opening half.
Rashawn Vance (18 carries for 103 yards) got things started with a 38-yard run. Ridge Bertuccio finished things off four plays later, sprinting 17 yards on a read-option to make it 21-7 at intermission.
Despite the momentum grab, the Cougar defense had no more success in the second half.
Pitman needed just five plays to punch it in on the opening drive of the second half, with Wyatt Clapper hitting Brennan Hauser for a 42-yard TD pass.
It was the start of some second-half fireworks as the two teams exchanged five straight scoring drives to open the second half.
Vance rushed for a 16-yard touchdown just to have Nelle answer with a 14-yard TD run of his own.
Bertuccio found Andre Bodiker for a 22-yard touchdown pass on Golden Valley's next possession, but the Pride responded with a Kody Brackett 2-yard TD plunge to make it 42-21.
The Pitman defense stiffened up after that, forcing a Cougar punt on the ensuing possession. GV never threatened again.
"We've just got to learn to play four quarters," Vance said. "Right now we're known as a two-quarter team. That's not going to get it done.
"We know the defense is going to figure it out. We just need to keep working."
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