EAST STROUDSBURG - Right from the start Saturday at Memorial Stadium, it just wasn’t Pleasant Valley’s night.

East Stroudsburg South quarterback Bobby McClosky attempted an onside kick to perfection at the beginning of the game and the Cavaliers caught the Bears off-guard.

From there, it was all East Stroudsburg South in a 36-14 Eastern Pennsylvania Conference victory over the Bears.

“They’re a good team,” PV head coach Blaec Saeger said about ES South. “I think first and foremost, they were probably a little better than us and that’s why they won. We did not play our best game. Penalties at inopportune times, (and) the ball’s on the ground that we didn’t get.”

McClosky was all over the field for the Cavaliers (3-1) on both sides of the ball. The senior quarterback found Dylan Osorio for a 22-yard score just over six minutes into the game.

McClosky also intercepted a pass from Pleasant Valley quarterback Robert Papaleo in the third quarter.

ES South running back Ron Blake got some carries in the third quarter of a game in which both teams were injury-plagued on an unusually warm September night in the Poconos.

The Cavalier defense stopped the Pleasant Valley rushing game, limiting the Bears (2-1) to 157 yards. Papaleo had 66 rushing yards on the night, while Jarod Moore added 46 more.

The ES South rushing game came primarily from Gary Welge, who had three rushing touchdowns. Four of ES South’s five touchdowns came from the running game.

Throughout the game, ES South was able to utilize multiple players to keep a balanced attack.

“We just seemed like we were in a funk right from the beginning,” Saeger said. “We just weren’t ourselves. I don’t know what it was. Maybe we were too excited. It certainly wasn’t preparation; like we were very ready to play this game, and maybe we were too amped up. I don’t know.”

Pleasant Valley didn’t get on the board until the second quarter when Papaleo threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Jake Gethen. The Bears next scored late in the fourth quarter when Papaleo found his main target, Ryan Blass, for the second touchdown.

“The offense got bogged down a little bit and every time we did get something moving, we’d do something to shoot ourselves in the foot it seemed like, or missed a block or just something,” Saeger said. “It was just one of those nights.”

Pleasant Valley returns home Friday against Dieruff.

TOUGH AS NAILS

... Papaleo went down on a defensive play later on in the contest, but was able to finish out the game for the Bears. Saeger spoke of his toughness and never give up attitude. “He’s a very tough kid and you got to be,” Saeger said.

DEFENSE

... There were some nice defensive plays recorded by both teams. Both PV and ES South each threw a pick, and the manner in which the Cavaliers were able to adapt in stopping the Bears offense was impressive.

NOT FAR AWAY

... The annual Old Oaken Bucket game between Pleasant Valley and Pocono Mountain East will be held in Swiftwater on Friday, Oct. 1. PV took the bucket back last year, and looks to retain it when the two face each other in Week 6.