Playoff chase continues for Golden Valley at Pitman

The last time the Golden Valley High School football team made the playoffs, it was 2006 and Chris Randle was playing quarterback.

Nine years later, Randle is in his fourth season in the Canadian Football League – and second with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as a defensive back – and the Cougars have their best opportunity to return to the postseason.

Golden Valley (4-3, 1-1 Central California Conference) needs to win two of its final three games to end its playoff drought. The Cougars head to Turlock tonight to play Pitman (4-3, 1-1) at Joe Debely Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

“We’re right there,” Golden Valley coach Dennis Stubbs said. “We have three meaningful games left, and we’re in a position we hadn’t been in awhile. All three games are against very good football teams.”

After Pitman, Golden Valley finishes against Buhach Colony and Merced.

The Cougars kept their playoff hopes alive with a dramatic 21-20 win over Atwater in double overtime last week. After Isaiah Montanez scored on a five-yard run to cut the Falcons’ lead to 20-19 in the second overtime, Stubbs opted to go for the two-point conversion and the win with kicker Shawn Bettencourt hurt.

Golden Valley ran a pass-run option for quarterback Armando Muzquiz on a naked bootleg. After faking a handoff to Montanez, Muzquiz saw nothing but green turf between him and the corner of the end zone and he ran in the two-point conversion.

The win has set the stage for some big games to close the season, and has created excitement around the program that hasn’t been there in a long time. Impressive, considering the Cougars suffered through an 0-10 season last year.

“I’m really digging the attitude out here,” Golden Valley senior defensive end Myles Houston said. “A lot of the seniors are getting in the juniors’ heads, making sure everyone is practicing at 100 percent. We want to practice like it’s a game. When we get to a game, we want to play like it’s the championship. That’s spread like wildfire. Now I can hear some juniors getting on players to practice 100 percent.”

Punching a postseason ticket won’t be easy, considering the programs Golden Valley has left on the schedule have had considerable success recently and are used to being in big games late in the season.

“They’ve been playing at a high level for a long time, and we’re barely starting to get there,” Stubbs said. “It’s tough, but we’re going to suit up just like they do. We’re practicing and scheming just like they do.”

Pitman, which is coming off a tough 28-21 loss to Merced, is going to be a tough challenge. Defending the Pride’s Wing-T offense isn’t easy.

“We’ve got to stay disciplined,” Cougars senior safety Nick Lemas said. “We have to watch the reverses and know our jobs. We have to play our position. We can’t bite because they’re very disciplined.”

“It’s the Wing-T. They’ve been running the same thing forever and ever,” Stubbs added. “The kids know it. We’ve got to be patient and try to slow them down, but it’s not an easy thing to do.”

The Cougars will get one big weapon back with the return of receiver Cadrian McDaniel, who missed last week because of a knee injury. McDaniel gives Golden Valley a deep threat outside and helps open up the field. The junior has 24 receptions for 578 yards and six touchdowns.

Friday night’s game can’t get here soon enough for the players.

“It feels really big, especially coming off an 0-10 season,” Houston said. “A lot of guys put in a lot of work over the summer. It’s starting to show. It’s been a while since Golden Valley has been in the playoffs, and I’m super excited to be part of a team that can make it to the playoffs.”

This story was originally published October 22, 2015 at 4:25 PM with the headline "Playoff chase continues for Golden Valley at Pitman."