The Pittsburg Pirates: a new team
On Oct. 9, 4A-1, Region II, District 7, begins conference play and the Pirates engage the North Lamar Panthers in their first district game. The Pirates are going in as the only undefeated team in the district.
As of Sept. 25, Liberty-Eylau is 4-1, Paris is 4-1, N. Lamar is 4-1, Princeton is 4-1, and Quinlan-Ford is 1-4. In 4A-1, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football ranks Liberty-Eylau is ranked No. 4, and Pittsburg No. 9, up from not being ranked at all.
Maxprep rates Pitt at No. 8, Liberty-Eylau No. 11, Paris No. 15, Princeton No. 27, N. Lamar No. 32, and Quinlan-Ford at No. 75. The High School AP poll rates Liberty-Eylau at No. 10 and Pittsburg tied with Carthage at No. 17.
The ETSN poll of 4A-1 rates Liberty-Eylau at No. 2 and Pittsburg at No. 4, with Gilmer at No. 1 and Henderson at No. 3. Liberty-Eylau comes off a 1 point victory over Atlanta, 44-43; remember that the Pirates defeated Atlanta by a comfortable 26 point margin, 40 to 14, if that means anything.
“The ESTN poll is a strictly an east Texas poll, and they know these teams, they cover these teams a lot,” Pittsburg athletic director Coach Brad Baca said.
Van defeated N. Lamar 49 to 42 on Sept. 25, which begs the question, is Pitt being underrated by most polls? That may not be a bad thing going into district play.
There is also the possibility that the “experts” are just waiting for Pitt to blow-up. They wait in vain. This is not the 2012 team of 2 and 8, nor the 2013 team of 5 and 7 and not the 2014 team of 4 and 7.
This is a better coached team that could go undefeated. There it is said, 10 and 0 is a possibility. There is no jinxing it.
There is no need to tip-toe around it any more. They can do it, they have the talent and they have the coaching. They have the inspiration.
“What makes our job easier and fun is their attitude to want to work. We gave them Monday off but they were coming down Tuesday and asking, ‘We’re practicing today right coach?’ I’d never heard that before,” Coach Baca said.
This team is committed to excellence. The offense has scored 212 points and the defense has allowed only 69 points and held two teams scoreless.
“The players enjoy the process as well, that’s one of the great things about these young men. It takes a very special bunch to enjoy the Monday through Friday process of preparation, when you get quality work during the week that translates to quality performance Friday night,” Coach Baca said, smiling.
The opposition can watch the game films and try to prepare, but this Pittsburg Pirate team is so explosive offensively, in the air and on the ground. This defensive line will live in your backfield, forget running around the ends, and passing against them is extremely iffy.
This is the team Pittsburg has waited for, this is the coaching staff the Pittsburg team has waited for, and this no-huddle offense is the best formation for this group of talented young men.
When asked about the upcoming game, Coach Baca said, “North Lamar lost their last one to a very good Van, Texas team. N. Lamar will be tough on their field; they’ve got several top Division one players. Their Quarterback is a stud, he can run and pass. Their defense runs a three – four; they are very good at going to the ball. We’re going to have our hands full. All the games in our District will be tough.”
By Ellis Knox, reporter@campcountynow.com -- To continue reading this article, purchase the print edition of The Pittsburg Gazette or go to our online e-edition at: http://www.etypeservices.
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