Pierce Rings Rival Valley’s Bell, 34-10

The “Victory Bell” finally began to toll late in the fourth period of Saturday night’s Western State Conference game between Pierce and Valley colleges.

The ringing was followed by a little dancing on the sidelines by the Pierce players, and then a Gatorade shower for Coach Bill Norton.

The two-tiered bell, which goes to the winner of the Pierce-Valley game each year, will remain Brahma red and white for another year after host Pierce rolled to a 34-10 victory and moved into sole possession of first place in the WSC South Division.

The victory, combined with Santa Monica’s win over Southwest on Saturday, gives Pierce (7-1-1, 6-1-1 in conference play) a 3-0-1 divisional record and keeps the Brahmas a half-game ahead of Santa Monica with one game to play. The Brahmas, who lead Southwest by a game, can clinch the division title at Bakersfield next Saturday.

The last time Pierce won a conference title was in 1985. The Brahmas’ coach then was Jim Fenwick, who made a less-than-triumphant return Saturday as the first-year coach of Valley.

“It didn’t seem like a special game to me, but maybe I’m different,” Fenwick said. “We met a pretty good team tonight, but we’ll be back.”

Norton did not bring the bell out of the training room until just before the opening kickoff, and then did not allow his players to ring it until the game was nearly over. Last year, when Pierce took the bell back from Valley, the Monarch players toted it out early and rang it repeatedly.

It was not music to the Brahmas’ ears.

“We didn’t ring it until the end because Valley paraded it around before the game last year and fired us up,” offensive tackle Bobby Kyman said.

As usual, Pierce’s offense was led by LaShante Parker, who rushed for 133 yards in 21 carries and scored touchdowns on runs of 25, two and 17 yards.

The Pierce defense, shredded for nearly 400 yards last week against Santa Monica, limited Valley (4-5, 4-4 in conference, 1-3 in division) to 157 yards and 18 passing.

Valley quarterback Michael Wynn completed just two of 13 passes, was sacked three times, and threw three interceptions.

Valley, which was averaging 254 yards rushing per game, was led by Terrance Brown, who gained 127 yards in 31 carries and scored the Monarchs’ only touchdown on a six-yard run as time expired in the game.

Pierce scored on its first four possessions and settled for a 20-3 advantage at intermission.

The Brahmas marched 60 yards in nine plays on their first series, and Parker went the final 25 on a sweep, tiptoeing down the right sideline for the touchdown.

Valley drove to the Pierce 39 on the ensuing possession, but Bruce Dotson picked off Wynn’s first pass and returned it 53 yards to the Monarch 16.

Four plays later, Parker scored again on a two-yard run. Steve Szekely added the kick and the Brahmas led, 14-0, with 3 minutes 12 seconds left in the second period. Pierce forced a Valley punt and drove to the Monarch five-yard line. On fourth and three, Szekely booted a 22-yard field goal to give Pierce a 17-0 lead.

Ed Staley and Willie Jackson teamed to sack Wynn on Valley’s next possession, forcing a fumble, which was recovered by Staley at the Monarch 18. Valley stopped the Brahmas, and Szekely booted a 35-yard field goal to give Pierce a 20-0 lead.