San Pedro Stays With the Plan

Displaying a calmness even as their hopes of repeating as City 4-A champions appeared to be slipping away, San Pedro’s coaching staff relied on the seldom-used double-wing-T offense.

They didn’t abandon the dated formation, even as the Pirate running game appeared mired on a muddy field, or when the scoreboard at Fremont High showed they were down to the Pathfinders, 9-0, midway through the fourth quarter.

With 2:30 left, the Pirates were still in the formation when running back Holmon Wiggins hauled in a pass with one hand and went 45 yards for a touchdown to give San Pedro a 13-9 quarterfinal victory before 3,200.

“I’ve seen other teams abandon their offenses when they get behind,” said San Pedro Coach Mike Walsh about the formation, which uses wingbacks instead of receivers. “I wasn’t going to give up anything until Fremont showed me they could stop it.”

In addition to his touchdown reception, Wiggins rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown in 21 carries for the Pirates (11-1).

After he scored San Pedro’s first touchdown on a three-yard run with 7:20 left, Fremont began driving and chewing up time.

With 4:32 left, Pathfinder quarterback Wayne Johnson ran for a first down and Fremont, which finished with 228 total yards, looked like it would run the clock out.

But a penalty moved the Pathfinders back to their 24. On second and 25, Johnson tried to throw to receiver Devery Hughes on an out pattern, but his pass was intercepted by Pirate cornerback Jason Rittgers.

The game began with both teams trying to stay upright on the rain-soaked field. Fremont (11-1) got its footing early and Jose Gonzalez kicked field goals of 30 and 33 yards to give the Pathfinders a 6-0 halftime lead. Gonzalez later had a 32-yard field goal.

Johnson passed for 118 yards and rushed for 74 in 16 carries, but the Pathfinders couldn’t get in the end zone.

“I think the San Pedro coaching staff know[s] they stole one,” Fremont Coach Pete Duffy said. “I’m not taking anything away from them, but I think they know that had this game been played on a dry field the outcome would have been different.”