It was a chilly senior night at Pirate Stadium for the final game of the 2018 season. A successful one for the Pirates (6-2 coming in), they looked towards another rout of Ridgeview, as they had done so in recent years. The Pirates, who started freshman quarterback Reuben Saucedo, got down the field with ease and the Pirates led into halftime 28-0.

With a little more offensive explosion in the second half, the Pirates completed the victory with a dominating score of 42-0. The seniors were essential in this one, with Ti’Rick Ivory (12), Tylor Balderrama (12), and Steven Harris (12) all contributing on defense with multiple tackles for loss. Senior running back Ikaika Gonzalez-Bentosino also contributed mightily by adding two touchdowns and a few long runs to bring the Pirates to the red zone.

This season for the Pirates truly seemed to be enough for a playoff berth, but players say they were stubbornly robbed by CHSAA. Highlights from the season include wins in the Pirate Bowl vs Alameda, and a clutch victory over a solid Bishop Machebeuf team 6-3, with kicker Angel Villaruel drilling 2 field goals to give the Pirates the win. The future looks bright with the success from the 2018 season, and players and the new coaching staff agree.

Gallery • 19 Photos

Thomas O'Connor

Pirate seniors (l-r #8 Tylor Balderrama, #53 Johnathan Ashlock, #3 Ikaika Gonzalez-Bentosino, #32 Ti'Rick Ivory, #18 Steven Harris) gather together before their final game at Englewood