POCONO SUMMIT – One week after its first win of the season, the Pleasant Valley football team had a rough time on Saturday.

A cool and rainy afternoon turned Pocono Mountain West’s field into a mud pit, but that didn’t slow the host Panthers who rolled to a 53-6 victory.

The day belonged to Pocono Mountain West running back Kaleb Monaco, who rushed for 246 yards with five touchdowns. Monaco broke free several times from the Pleasant Valley defenders and was responsible for most of the Panther offense.

Meanwhile, Bears’ star Nasai Moon was held to just 34 yards rushing in the game.

The Bears began the game with Moon taking the snaps at quarterback, but Pocono Mountain West adjusted to the senior’s slick running moves which forced Pleasant Valley to switch up offensive schemes.

“Our philosophy is put the ball in the best athlete’s hands and that’s going to always be my philosophy,” Pleasant Valley interim head coach Brian Miller said. “We have to do what we have to do, and they were able to stop us.

“We switched in Gabe Masker (at quarterback) for a little bit and then we put Jack Stephens back in. That’s been a position of concern for us all year.”

Miller was filling in for head coach Matt Kosciolek who was suspended for the contest.

In addition to Moon’s struggles in the backfield, the Bears fumbled the ball five times on the day.

Pocono Mountain West scored 20 points off of Bear turnovers and the game reached the mercy rule with 11:27 left in the fourth quarter on another Monaco touchdown run.

Miller said the team was aware of this week’s circumstances involving coach Kosciolek and the game plan didn’t change.

“We didn’t skip a beat, it’s been business as usual all week,” Miller said. “The kids understood that and I give them a lot of credit because the young men we have on this team are resilient. They showed up every day to practice and get better and that’s all we can ask for at this point.

“Piece by piece and day by day, we’re going to take the lumps a little bit, but I have to give the kids a compliment because they just keep coming back and working to get better.”

HOME FINALE … Pleasant Valley will play its final home game Friday against East Stroudsburg South. The Cavaliers are coming off a 53-18 win over Dieruff and looking to solidify their position atop the District 11 Class 5A standings.

WE TALKIN’ ABOUT PRACTICE … Despite having just one win on the season. The Bears are still working hard according to Miller. “We lean towards how the practice week goes. I told these guys at the beginning of this week, the guys that practice the hardest, that practice the best are going to play in the game,” explained Miller. “We’re trying to change a culture. Right now, it’s not about winning and losing. It’s about learning how to practice, working to get better and using that momentum. At the end of the week, if you practice good, you’re going to play.”