Pleasant Valley might not run the North, but the Bears can lay claim to Monroe County.

It doesn’t have a slick rivalry name or a fancy trophy.

But it certainly has a nice ring to it.

Pleasant Valley capped its most successful regular season since 2016 with a 14-13 victory over Stroudsburg on Friday night, a win that secured a sweep of the Monroe County schools in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.

“One way or another - it was not pretty - but this team ain’t pretty,” said Bears’ head coach Blaec Saeger. “We’re a bunch of ugly freakin’ grinders. That’s what we are, man.”

And it was a team that has gone from 0-10 in 2019 - Saeger’s first season in charge - to a 7-3 mark this season.

“We’ve come a long way, and it’s the kids, and it’s the work ethic, it’s the weight training program, it’s the strength and conditioning program, it’s the assistant coaches, it’s the parents, it’s the school, it’s the community,” said Saeger, who has led the team to districts three years in a row. “It is everything, and I love it here. I just love how this group comes together, and those kids, it’s toughness and togetherness. That’s what they’re built on, and that’s what tonight was.”

Pleasant Valley opened a 14-0 lead on its first drive of the second half, which ended with Fela Olaniyan (21 carries, 82 yards) plowing into the end zone from one yard out after Jarod Moore (seven carries, 82 yards) ripped off a 60-yard run to put the Bears’ at the goal line.

After a three-and-out on the Mounties (6-4) next possession, Pleasant Valley fumbled on its ensuing drive at the Stroudsburg 33-yard line, a turnover that led to a 21-yard touchdown run by Jordon Wilcox to trim the deficit to 14-7 with 3:51 to play in the third period.

The Bears’ offense stalled again on its next drive, losing two yards before punting from their own 13-yard line. Stroudsburg took advantage of the favorable field position, starting at the Pleasant Valley 31-yard line and finishing the series with another Wilcox score, this time from three yards out to make it 14-13 with 11:17 to play in the fourth quarter.

A bad snap on the extra point kept the Mounties from tying it.

Stroudsburg had one more possession with 8:16 left in the game, but couldn’t convert on third-and-13 from their own 34-yard line and punted the ball away.

The Bears took over at their own 20-yard line with 7:01 to play and never gave the ball back, running the clock out with a long drive to seal the win.

Stroudsburg outgained Pleasant Valley 240-184, but managed just 67 yards (nine passing, 58 rushing) and four first downs in the second half.

“The defense scored, the defense held them and the defense won this game,” said Saeger. “And then the offense finished it. We’re like the closer in baseball. We’re like Mariano Rivera.”

The Bears broke through on a defensive play late in the first half when Valentino Byers-Robinson returned an interception 59 yards for a score with 38.9 left before halftime.

The interception came one play after William Stefani sacked Mounties quarterback Aiden Herman to force second and long.

“We just know what to do,” Byers-Robinson said of the defense. “We listened to (defensive coordinator Brian) Miller, and he just guides us to what we need to do. On that pick, I saw No. 2 (Bryan Irizarry) do a whip route to the outside, pretty much an out route, and I read the quarterback and jumped it.”

Stroudsburg moved into Pleasant Valley territory on its next drive with two quick passing plays. After a pair of incompletions, the Mounties’ 43-yard field goal at the end of the quarter was short, keeping the score 7-0.

Leadell Burpo ended Stroudsburg’s first drive of the game with an interception at the Bears’ 27-yard line.

The Mounties put together a long drive on their third series to reach the Pleasant Valley 19-yard line. Stroudsburg had a pass broken up by Mario Mondillo and Blake Walters in the end zone on second down. After another incompletion on third down, the Mounties attempted a 36-yard field goal but couldn’t convert.

HOW SWEEP IT IS

... While unbeaten Northampton will rule the North Division in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, the Bears own wins over all of the division’s Monroe County schools - ES North, ES South, PM East, PM West and Stroudsburg this season.

PLAYOFF SEASON

... Pleasant Valley is currently second in Class 5A and now await next week’s opponent in the district playoffs.