It was a long time coming.

The last Pleasant Valley varsity football victory was on Oct. 5, 2018, when the Bears beat East Stroudsburg North, 21-18. On Friday, the Bears defeated the Timberwolves once again in an Eastern Pennsylvania Conference rout, 43-0.

On the very first play from scrimmage, at his own 8-yard line, PV quarterback Rob Papaleo threw a swing pass to Ryan Blass, who side stepped a defensive back and ran down the right sideline to the T’Wolves’ 15.

Two plays later, Papaleo broke through the right side for a touchdown.

After a three-and-out, and a North punt, Papaleo orchestrated a seven-play scoring drive, culminated by his 58-yard run which made it a 2-score game.

The Bears wasted no time before their next scoring opportunity.

“My team worked really hard for this win,” Papaleo said. “I wanted this badly. I’m been waiting two years for this and I couldn’t do what I did without my team.”

On the ensuing kickoff, they recovered a fumble that set up shop on the North 29. After Adam Winkler gained 7 yards on a pitch left, and a Jared Salazar 3-yard blast for a Bears’ first down at the 19, Salazar bolted through the left side for another score and a 21-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Pleasant Valley coach Blake Seager said his team had a plan and they executed it to perfection.

“Our option offense usually relies on deception, but we wanted to play old school, smash-mouth football and win the battles up front with our line.”

The Bears kept their foot on the gas with a five-play drive at the start of the second quarter. On a third down and 12, from their own 47, Saeger inserted junior Jacob Gethen, who fired a pass downfield. Blass came back from his route to grab the ball and then broke tackle after tackle through the T’Wolves’ secondary, aided by a terrific block by Papaleo to score a 53-yard touchdown.

“The great thing about running the option is you keep the defense keying on the run and then you go up top to hit the big play,” said Saeger.

Pleasant Valley’s defense was outstanding all night, holding North to just 1 first down and negative 12 yards of total offense. After another North punt, Papaleo took the Bears 58 yards in 7 plays and scored his third TD of the night.

Matthew Smith recovered a fumble, whichw as 1 of 7 by the T’Wolves, and with 18 seconds to go before the intermission, Salazar lugged the rock for another score, this one, a 22-yard touchdown.

“Rob is a super kid,” Saeger said of his quarterback. “He’s a hard worker and he’s taken the good with the bad so I’m so happy for him as I am for all these kids tonight.”

Saeger’s postgame speech to his team bristled with emotion. “We’re not little kids that are going to get pushed around anymore. Let’s take this momentum and keep playing physical football like we did tonight.”

WITH A CHERRY ON TOP

... The win was extra sweet for Saeger, who admitted after the game that he didn’t want to lose to the Timberwolves. Not only has he taught at ESN for 17 years, he also coached there. Saeger said he has an extra incentive to walk the halls of his workplace next week.

ANCHORS AWAY

... Saeger studied the option offense run by the Naval academy. He said its perfect for an undersized team that relies on deceiving the opponents’ defense. “Just like with Navy, it’s great for our high character athletes here at Pleasant Valley. These are really good kids who have worked hard and deserve this moment.”