With a playoff game on the line, the Simi Valley Pioneers rose to the challenge on Saturday. They secured a 44-38 W over the Mustangs. This was one game where the offenses had no trouble playing at a high level.
Simi Valley's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Brice Hawkins led the charge by rushing for 142 yards and three touchdowns. Dominic Demaio did his part to keep the secondary busy, picking up 149 receiving yards and a touchdown.
On the other side of the ball, a lot of the credit has to go to Simi Valley's defensive line and their three sacks. Leading the way was Izak Simpson and his two sacks.
Mira Costa's loss shouldn't obscure the performances of Nico De La Cruz, who threw for 467 yards and four touchdowns, and Reese Leonard who picked up 258 receiving yards and two touchdowns. De La Cruz is on a roll when it comes to passing yards, as he's now passed for 300 or more in the last four games he's played. Charlie O'connor also helped out as he racked up 144 receiving yards.
The win (which was Simi Valley's fourth in a row) raised their record to 9-5. Those victories were due in large part to their offensive dominance across that stretch, as they averaged 35.8 points per game. As for Mira Costa, their defeat dropped their record down to 6-8.
Simi Valley will head out on the road to face off against Central Valley Christian at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. Central Valley Christian is coming into the contest hot, having won their last ten games. Mira Costa does not have any more games scheduled as of now.
