ALLENTOWN - Pleasant Valley walked off the Parkland football field Friday night on the losing end for the first time this season.

Parkland handed the Bears their first loss 38-7 in an Eastern Pennsylvania Conference cross-division matchup.

Pleasant Valley head coach Blaec Saeger, in his fourth season, didn’t want any of the hype in how the first five games went prior to the latest one, falling to the previously 2-3 Trojans.

“Now that we’re no longer undefeated we can stop talking about all of that,” said Saeger. “Our first five games compared to their first five games is a world of difference. They are a great team and have a very difficult schedule. For us to come down here and compete for 48 minutes against that giant over there, I am so proud of these guys. They have the numbers and the talent and the coaching and are just an awesome program. Our kids were right there with them for a long time in the game. If nothing else, we showed that we belong.”

For two-and-a-half quarters, Pleasant Valley (5-1) was within striking distance of Parkland. After tying the game on a two-yard keeper by quarterback Valentino Byers-Robinson with 5:32 left in the second quarter, the Trojans answered in quick fashion. They returned the ensuing kickoff 74 yards for a score by Marquez Wimberly, then struck for a 41-yard touchdown pass from Luke Spang to Jack Harrison on the first play with 0:45 to half that gave them a 21-7 lead going into the locker rooms.

Parkland took control of the game in the third quarter, outscoring Pleasant Valley 17-0.

The Bears brought a different element to the game in its triple option offense. The Trojans do not see it often and had a tough time defending it in the first half. Overall, PV ran 59 times for 188 yards and the Byers-Robinson touchdown.

“That’s what we do, our bread and butter,” Saeger said. “The triple option can be tough to stop. We had success in the first half and didn’t really do anything differently in the second half. I think they just adjusted and had a good game plan for it in the second half and got a little angry that we had some big plays early on them. In the second half we tried to get out on the perimeter, but it just wasn’t happening. They’re too good and too physical and fast.”

Pleasant Valley senior running back Oluwafeola Olaniyan rushed for 142 yards on 30 carries.

“He’s just a rock-solid human being,” said Sager. “He’s a straight A student in the classroom, a team captain. He has all the tangibles in the world and he’s one of the toughest guys you’ll see out here. He’s our guy and we’ll go as far as he’ll take us. He’s the heart and soul of our offense.”

Having lost for the first time this season, Pleasant Valley wants to move forward. It won’t have to look far as it takes on Northampton next weekend. The Kids (5-0 overall) are in first place in the EPC North Division. They play Bethlehem Catholic today (Saturday).

“It is what it is,” Saeger said. “We learn and move on. We went toe to toe with arguably the toughest team on our schedule. It’s just going to prepare us for what we have moving forward here, which is more tough EPC teams in Northampton and Freedom. We’re going to learn a lot about our program here these next few weeks.”