The Pioneer football team was on a three-game losing streak as it prepared to host Glenn in the 605 League finale when Titans coach Ramon Juarez had to deliver some tough news to his team.

There would be no final game or senior night because Glenn was forfeiting the game due to low participation.

“You could see their eyes, some of the tears,” Juarez recalled. “Is this it coach? Is it over? It was especially hard for the seniors to lose senior night. That’s such a special game. We thought our season was probably over.”

It turned out, the Titans’ season was far from over.

Pioneer finished third in the four-team 605 League and did not get one of the league’s two automatic playoff berths. But with Glenn’s forfeit, it gave the Titans a 5-5 record and teams with .500 or better records have priority over teams with sub-.500 records when choosing at-large berths.

So, you can imagine what the jubilation was like when the CIF Southern Section football pairings were released and the Titans were awarded an at-large berth to the Division 14 playoffs.

“I was so happy for them, especially our seniors who would get another game,” Juarez said. “And when we got to that first practice before the playoffs, it was different. There was a different focus on their face.”

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Pioneer rolled through the Division 14 playoffs before fending off San Gabriel, 13-6, in the Division 14 championship game to win the school’s first section title.

And it is not done.

Pioneer shut out the Los Angeles City Section’s Panorama 24-0 last week to win the CIF State Division 7-A South Regional title, and now the Titans are on the verge of winning the state championship.

Pioneer (10-5) will take on San Francisco’s Balboa (8-5) in the Division 7-A state title game Saturday at Fullerton High School at 11 a.m.

“When we found out we were in the playoffs, everything changed, they just woke up,” Juarez said. “There was more accountability from our seniors and our captains. They made sure everyone was on board and held each other accountable.

“Even at the CIF (champions) luncheon before the (sectional) championship game, everyone was there smiling and having a good time and our guys had serious looking faces. I tried to tell them to enjoy this, but they were focused on winning the championship game.”

And now they get to play for a state title. It’s all surreal, Juarez explained.

“Nobody expected this, any of it really,” Juarez said. “I’ve been at this for 35 years and know how special this is and how rare of an opportunity that we have. To go from no senior game, your season might be over to this? It speaks to our players who got this opportunity and are making the most of it.”

JOSE ROJAS HAVING BIG SEASON

Jose Rojas has done it all for Pioneer.

Rojas caught all five of quarterback Amiri Resendiz’s passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns in their win over San Gabriel in the CIF-SS Division 14 final. On defense he is among the CIF-SS leaders with 10 interceptions to go with 113 tackles and three fumble recoveries.

“He’s trouble on both sides of the ball, a very aggressive tackler who makes some big hits and is real good on coverage,” Juarez said. “Offensively, he’s a breakaway guy when he gets the ball in his hands. He’s a joy to be around and the last four weeks he’s being more accountable too. There is just no messing around with him.”

Resendiz was 15 of 25 for 148 yards and a touchdown in the Titans’ win over Panorama last week. Seven completions went to Juarez, including a touchdown pass.

“Those two have been throwing the ball since January,” Juarez said. “They have built something together and you’ve seen them make big plays in big moments.”

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM BALBOA?

Balboa dominated Los Molinos 41-6 to win Northern California’s Division 7-A Regional title and appears to have a balanced offense.

Quarterback Rylen Thien-Jones averages 141 yards and they have several backs who share the load combining to average nearly 70 yards a game.

But the Buccaneers might be much more challenging than their record indicates. They lost their first four games and enter the state final having won eight of their last nine.

“My understanding is they had some kids ineligible at the beginning of the season and when they got them back, they were a totally different team,” Juarez said. “They’re athletic, aggressive and a little bigger than us across the board. We’re going to have to stay disciplined and play our best defense. But I think we can give them fits, keep it close and try to pull this out.”

Although the Titans can pass the ball, they’re at their best when they run. In the Division 14 semifinals against Ganesha, they ran for 478 yards and seven touchdowns. They have run for 200 or more yards five times.

Adrian Lopez is the Titans’ top linebacker and top rusher. He ran for 195 yards and three TDs in the win over Ganesha.

“We can throw but we like to pound the ball, no doubt,” Juarez said. “We’ll see how the game goes and what’s working for us.”