Turlock holds off Pitman 24-16 in hard-played Harvest Bowl

The Turlock and Pitman high football teams are both well-coached, hard-hitting football teams. And they’re both headed to the postseason.

But only one team can be called Turlock’s best, and that title went to the Bulldogs on Friday night.

The two teams played a physical, entertaining game in the 12th Harvest Bowl, and it was Turlock that walked away with the 24-16 win.

The result could mean that the Bulldogs (7-2, 4-1 CCC) will host a Sac-Joaquin Section playoff game at Joe Debely Stadium next week, a possibility that made Turlock coach James Peterson happy.

“If that happens, that would be great,” Peterson said. “Not having to get on the bus next week? I would love that.”

Pitman (6-4, 3-2) will likely hit the road for its playoff opener, but the Pride have proven that they can win after long road trips, having defeated Deer Valley 36-0 in Antioch and beating North Salinas 34-13 in Salinas this season.

Pitman can also take solace that it went toe-to-toe with its powerful cross-town rival and came up just short.

“We’re going to use this game as motivation for next week,” said Pitman junior quarterback Jacob Perez. “If we can clean up the mistakes, we can do some damage (in the playoffs).”

In the end, Pitman made one more mistake than Turlock and it cost the Pride the game.

With Pitman at the Turlock 5-yard line in the final minutes, running back Ryan Yniquez had the ball stripped out of his hand and the Bulldogs recovered. The play preserved Turlock’s eight-point lead and the Bulldogs were able to run out the clock, thanks to Brandon Booz’s 62-yard scamper.

It was the second time in the final quarter that Pitman advanced inside Turlock’s 10 yard line and came away with no points. Pitman was also stopped at the half-yard line on a fourth-down play.

The game may be remembered for those big fourth-quarter plays, but it was a play at the end of the first half that changed the game.

Facing fourth down and long with just seconds left in the half, Danny Velazquez hit Dylan Cummings for a 39-yard touchdown pass. Cummings was double-covered on the TD, which tied the game 14-14 going into halftime.

“That really changed the tide of the game,” Velazquez said.

As usual, Velazquez did yeoman’s work for the Bulldogs. Normally the team’s top running back, he played quarterback in place of the injured Peyton Dunseth for the second straight week. Velazquez did most of his damage running the ball, finishing with 114 yards and a TD on 22 carries.

After a slow start – throwing two interceptions, both on tipped passes, in his first four attempts – Velazquez passed for 104 yards and the big TD.

“Last week (against Merced) was pretty nerve-wracking,” Velazquez said. “I was like, ‘I don’t know what I’m doing.’ But I’m a lot more comfortable over the weeks.”

Dunseth made a brief appearance at the start of the second half, mostly handing off to Velazquez and Booz (19 carries, 132 yards). After the game he said he expects to start the playoff opener.

Pitman’s ground game, minus injured senior Blake McBay, went for 187 yards and two short touchdowns, by Matt Parker and Titus Schammel.

Turlock totaled 274 yards rushing.

Both teams will hope to get their running games going again next week in their playoff openers.

Both teams will be challenged to rebound after an emotionally draining game. Turlock players jumped for joy after the final play.

Several Pitman players were in tears after the game as they walked to midfield for a two-team huddle and prayer.

This story was originally published November 6, 2015 at 11:45 PM with the headline "Turlock holds off Pitman 24-16 in hard-played Harvest Bowl."