Pleasant Valley has spent this season growing into the team it believed it could become.

Now, the Bears have a chance to show just how far they’ve come.

Three consecutive victories have put Pleasant Valley one win away from an Eastern Pennsylvania Conference North Division championship heading into Friday night’s regular-season finale against Stroudsburg.

The Bears (5-4) will face a Mounties team that has followed a remarkably similar path this fall.

Both teams opened the season with two victories, dropped four straight games and have since rebounded with three consecutive wins.

For Pleasant Valley coach Blaec Saeger, the biggest difference in his team’s recent success has been its ability to handle adversity and make plays when it matters most.

“All four of those losses were very close and games we could have won,” Saeger said. “We were unable to finish. I believe we learned from those losses and took those experiences into the PMW game which allowed us to play more composed in the fourth quarter.”

That growth was evident in last week’s 27-26 victory over Pocono Mountain West.

The Bears overcame three turnovers and a 293-238 disadvantage in total yards, making the plays they needed when the game was on the line.

After the Panthers scored to pull within one point, Pleasant Valley stopped a 2-point conversion attempt to preserve its lead.

Pocono Mountain West recovered the ensuing onside kick, but Chris Ward tipped and intercepted a pass with under two minutes remaining to help seal the victory.

“I’ve never questioned the character or resilience of the boys,” Saeger said. “Like I said in the previous answer it showed me that they grew and learned from previous losses on how to finish a game.”

Ward demonstrated his versatility when the Panthers limited his production on the ground, completing 4-of-5 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 47 yards and another score.

He connected with William Breuer and Gavin Dorshimer for touchdowns before delivering the game-sealing interception.

“Chris showed his overall ability as a football player,” Saeger said. “He was held in check as far as rushing yards are concerned but managed to throw 2 TD passes and have the game sealing INT.”

Dorshimer finished with two receptions for 76 yards, while Breuer added three catches for 50 yards and a touchdown. Ward also caught a 22-yard pass, while Sean Cobb Jr. contributed a 35-yard interception return for a score.

Saeger also singled out Dorshimer, Breuer and Gavin Bates for their performances.

Pleasant Valley’s progress has been particularly meaningful for a senior class that gained valuable varsity experience early in its career.

Many were thrust into significant roles as sophomores in 2024, when the Bears were navigating a rebuilding season.

“A large reason we were 0-10 is because so many sophomores were thrust into roles they were not ready to handle,” Saeger said. “It made for a rough 2024 but definitely has them ready to handle anything thrown at them in 2026.”

After building momentum from 2020-23, Pleasant Valley faced a rebuilding process following consecutive graduating classes of more than 20 seniors.

“A large part of that re-building process was the natural growth and evolution of our current seniors,” Saeger said.

Stroudsburg has experienced a resurgence of its own. The Mounties (5-4) have scored 141 points during their three-game winning streak, including a 38-28 victory over East Stroudsburg South last week. They also defeated Pocono Mountain West 37-21 earlier this month.

Saeger knows his defense will face a challenge against an offense led by quarterback Jack Mitchell.

“They have a lot of speed and a big, strong OL,” Saeger said. “Jack Mitchell is one of the best QB’s in the conference.”

The contest also carries significant implications for the rest of the EPC North.

A Pleasant Valley victory would give the Bears the division title outright through the head-to-head tiebreaker over Pocono Mountain East.

If Stroudsburg wins, the title would depend on East’s game against Pocono Mountain West. An East victory would give it the championship, while a West victory would allow Stroudsburg to claim the title.

For PV, however, the equation is simple.

Win, and the Bears are champions.

Through the experience gained in previous seasons and the challenges overcome this fall, the Bears have put themselves in position for a meaningful finish.

“Everything we wanted is in front of us,” Saeger said. “Every weight we lifted, every sprint we ran was in preparation for a game of this magnitude.”