November 23, 2023.

That was the last time Pleasant Valley won a football game until Thursday night.

Not only did the Bears get the monkey off their back, they completely dominated Dieruff in a 34-7 rout of the Huskies.

How convincing was PV’s win?

In building a 21-0 halftime lead, it moved the chains 11 times to just one for Dieruff. The Bears ran and passed for 230 yards to a total of just 16 for the Huskies.

“We played Pleasant Valley style of football,” Pleasant Valley head coach Blaec Saeger said after the game. “We ran our triple option and were able to pop a few big plays from the outside.”

The Bears took the opening kickoff and drove six plays for a 6-0 lead. The big play was a 35-yard pass play from quarterback Jaxson Haines to William Breuer.

The final 11 yards to paydirt were gained by Chris Ward at 7:32 of the first quarter.

Dieruff appeared to have tied the score on its first possession, but a 58-yard TD run by Derwyn Deris was nullified by a holding penalty.

The Bears got the ball back and scored on another six-play drive.

This time, the big gainer was a 20-yard blast up the middle by Isaac Westerman that gave PV a first down at the Huskies’ 16-yard line. On the next play, Ward found a hole off right tackle and carried the rock to the house.

Ahead 14-0, the Bears then mastered a 16-play touchdown drive that took nine minutes off the second quarter clock. Haines, who finished the night 11-of-13 for 156 yards and two touchdowns, hit Westerman in the end zone from eight yards out for a 21-0 advantage at intermission.

Saeger was extremely pleased about his team’s execution on both sides of the ball.

“We were more physical than them,” he said. “That helped us run the ball and get good pass protection. We were able to use our speed on the outside to get us some big gains, too. On defense, we held Deris in check and that was big because he’s a special talent, and we didn’t give up any big plays until after the outcome was decided.”

The Bears were very aware of Deris’s explosive ability after he ran two long kickoffs and caught a TD pass last week against Pocono Mountain East.

After each score, Pleasant Valley squib kicked the ball away from him.

Another impressive Bears’ scoring drive took place early in the third quarter after a 14-play, eight-minute drive culminated in a 12-yard TD pass from Haines to Breuer for a 28-0 lead.

The Huskies still could not muster any offense, and on a second-and-seven from their own 39, Niko Payan intercepted a pass to set his offense up for their last touchdown drive.

Haines hit Payan on a second-and-12 for a 19-yard gain where Payan then bolted over the goal line for a 34-0 lead.

Dieruff finally scored with 2:49 left to play on a 2-yard run by Alphy Deris.

“We got No. 1!” Saeger told his team after the game. “Now, let’s get ready to build on our success from here.”

HOMETOWN HERO … At halftime, Pleasant Valley honored 100-year old World War II veteran, Raymond Benesky, who served in both Italy and Africa as an Army gunner, and was awarded two bronze stars and two purple hearts.

ALL IN THE ACT … The Bears spread the ball around in their lopsided victory. Nine different players carried the ball, and five different players caught passes in gaining 401 yards in total offense.

NEXT UP … Pleasant Valley travels to Reading next Friday night to take on the Exeter Eagles. Game time is 7 p.m.

Pleasant Vy. 34, Dieruff 7

Dieruff 0 0 0 7 - 7

Pleasant Valley 14 7 7 6 - 34

PV - Ward 11 run (kick failed)

PV - Ward 16 run (Wheeler pass from Haines)

PV - Westerman 8 pass from Haines (Duran kick)

PV - Breuer 12 pass from Haines (Duran kick)

PV - Payan 1 run (kick failed)

D - A. Deris 1 run (Cruz kick)