EAST STROUDSBURG — Blaec Saeger took a step back to find a big stride forward.

Pleasant Valley’s first-year head coach thought back to the season opener against Liberty, a game that was 42-0 at halftime.

“That one ended up 70-0,” Saeger recalled.

Saeger pointed to the Bears’ performance Friday night in a 49-19 loss to East Stroudsburg South as an example of just how far the Bears have come.

“They’ve grown so much as a football team and as people,” Saeger said. “They battle and they fight. They realize what it’s going to take to scratch and claw and get back into one. They never ever quit. This group doesn’t quit.

“Their heart, their character, their determination is awesome. I’m just so proud to coach them.”

Pleasant Valley (0-9) faced a halftime deficit similar to the one it encountered in Week 1, trailing the Cavaliers 49-6 at the intermission.

But where the Bears slipped in the opener, they fought in the penultimate game of the season, outscoring the Cavaliers (7-2) 13-0 in the second half.

“It’s just growth, because their heart and their character, which is as strong as its ever been, allowed them to grow,” said Saeger. “They never buried their heads; they never gave up; they never quit. They are such high character kids, they have to get better, because they just work, and we coach them up, and they just continue to grind and drive forward.

“Obviously, it was still 49-6 at halftime, we still have a long way to go. But you can’t question who they are as people, and that’s why I love coaching them.”

East Stroudsburg South took advantage of three defensive touchdowns and two big pass plays to take a 35-0 lead in the first quarter. After opening the scoring with a 92-yard halfback pass from Christian Sapp to Evan Roche, the Cavaliers used big plays on the other side of the ball to take command.

Turnovers resulted in defensive scores via two fumbles recoveries and an interception on each of the Bears’ next three drives to push the advantage to 28-0 in a span of two-and-a-half minutes.

After another fumble recovery, William Fish found Christian Sapp for a 45-yard score to make it 35-0 with 3:22 to play in the opening quarter.

“Our game plan was to try to try to score quickly,” said South head coach Matt Walters. “We had that trick play, we practiced it all week, and just very well executed by my guys.

“I’m just proud of the guys we have. Christian Sapp, Evan Roche, Will Fish … they make my job easy. I can put them in a position, and I trust them with what they do.”

Fish finished 6-for-7 with 136 yards passing, hitting Ansun Ruffin for a 29-yard score in the second quarter to make it 42-0, while Sapp accounted for 164 yards of total offense (92 passing, 72 receiving). Roche added a 17-yard score in the waning moments of the first half on his only carry of the game.

The Bears got on the board when Jared Salazar went in from a yard out late in the second quarter to make it 42-6. Robert Papaleo had scoring runs of 18 and 23 yards in the second half.

Salazar finished with 120 yards rushing on 21 carries, while Papaleo carried the ball 18 times for 114 yards.

“We told our kids all week and in the locker room that you are playing a team that fights until there are zeros on the scoreboard,” said Walters. “And that’s a direct reflection of the coaching staff and the kids that they have at Pleasant Valley. Pleasant Valley has tough kids.”

GIVE IT AWAY NOW

… The Cavaliers’ defense forced seven turnovers – five fumbles and two interceptions.

RIVALRY WEEK

… Pleasant Valley closes out its season next week against Stroudsburg. East Stroudsburg South will have one more tuneup before the postseason begins with a contest against East Stroudsburg North.