The last time the Pioneer High School varsity football team won a playoff game over 15 years ago, all of their current players were still toddlers.

Luckily for the Patriots (8-3, 4-1 Golden Empire League), no streaks are meant to last forever, and for the first time since the 2006/07 season, they enjoyed a much overdue postseason victory thanks to a 35-14 win over Ceres (3-7, 2-5 Western Football) in the first round of the 2023 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division V playoffs Friday night.

“It is cool to have us be relevant and part of the football landscape,” Patriots head coach Matthew Bryson said. “It was also great to see us win our way by running the ball and being physical. It was an overall great night.”

Sixteen seasons ago, not counting the current year, Pioneer was still in Division III and managed to rattle off two postseason wins over El Camino and future league rivals Casa Roble before falling in the title game against powerhouse Del Campo High School 21-14.

After that season, the Patriots lost to Del Campo again in the opening round and then to Whitney High School two years in a row before failing to make the playoffs until 2018, when they lost to Foothill. In 2021, after enjoying a bye week, they lost to Ripon 39-20, and in 2022, they fell to Center 28-7.

“It feels very special to get a playoff win for the school and the kids,” Bryson said. “The past few years have been disappointing in the playoffs, as we just didnt play well in the games. To get the win tonight is so cool. I’m very happy and excited for the kids.”

After a fine season in the Golden Empire League, the Patriots were rewarded with the No. 6 seed and a home opener in the first round of the D5 playoffs. Ceres stumbled to a fifth-place finish in the Western Football League, but despite their tough season, still earned a playoff berth as the No. 11 seed.

The Patriots enjoyed a dream start to the showdown, with their first drive culminating in an explosive 40-yard touchdown run from junior running back Landon Dahler. After the point after attempt, the Pats were up 7-0.

Ceres then showed off why they qualified for the playoffs with a quick response, tying the game up at 7-7 with 7:32 left to play in the first quarter.

On the very next Patriots drive, quarterback Martin Bartz passed it to wide receiver Julian Munoz for an 18-yard gain. Eventually, they’d work the ball to the one-yard line. Instead of giving it back to Dahlor for a guaranteed score, Bartz kept it himself and snuck the ball in for a 1-yard touchdown to give the Pats a 13-7 lead.

On the PAT, a bad snap forced Munoz to deviate from holding the ball for his kicker and desperately scamper into the endzone for the 2-point conversion making it 15-7.

On the next Bulldogs drive, Francisco Romero would step into the path of a pass and intercept the ball, taking it all the way to the Dogs’ 19-yard line.

Romero finished the game with 7 tackles, a sack and an interception. Lloyd Ruiz led the way defensively with 15 tackles and a sack.

On second down, Dahler continued his assault on Bulldogs defenders and rumbled into the endzone for a 19-yard touchdown to make it 21-7. Dahler finished the night with 143 yards rushing and two scores.

To start off the second quarter, the Pats forced a Bulldogs punt. Now on their fourth drive and in full offensive rhythm, Bartz would connect down the left sideline on a massive 41-yard bomb to his big safety blanket wide receiver Haiden Aletto.

After Dahlor did the dirty work to get them back to the 1-yard line, Bartz snuck in the ball again, and after the PAT, the score was 28-7.

Following the halftime break, the Patriots looked to get the ball back to their offense and run the clock out. Bryson wanted to make sure the Bulldogs had no hope of mounting a comeback.

Follwing a sack from Nicco Hargrove, Pioneer forced a punt. On their first drive of the second half, the Pats looked to end the Bulldog’s night and did thanks to another massive pass to Aletto, setting them up in the red zone.

Before the celebrations on the catch ended, Bartz took a quick snap and threw it high and in the general direction of Aletto again, who rose up above his defender and nabbed an easy touchdown grab, giving the Patriots an insurmountable 35-7 lead.

“I can throw that ball anywhere, and he will go grab it,” Martin Bartz said. “He is just so tall, it’s easy for him to get open over the top. I just have to get it in his area for him to pull it down.”

Aletto finished the game with the touchdown, along with four catches for 94 yards.

“He (Bartz) just does his job out there,” Bryson said. “He keeps his head down, and you know what you will get from him during the week at practice. I’m very happy for him. He’s improved so much this year. He has made huge strides 10 games in as the varsity quarterback.”

Bartz finished the game with the two rushing touchdowns and completed 6-of-8 passes for 125 yards and the score.

Ceres scored a consolation touchdown to cut the score to 35-14, but by then, all of the Patriot’s reserves were in, and the result was locked in. Following the midfield handshakes, Patriots players grabbed a water cooler, surrounded Bryson and drenched him, celebrating the school’s first football playoff win in 16 years.

With the win, the Patriots now move on to the D5 quarterfinals, where they will face off against Hilmar (7-3, 4-1 Trans Valley League). The Yellowjackets finished second in the TVL, earning the No. 3 overall seed in D5, and enjoyed a first-round bye on Friday night.

Due to the Veterans Day holiday on Friday, the kickoff is set for Thursday at 7 p.m.

“It’s going to be fun to put together a plan to go play a good team and see where the chips fall next Thursday night,” Bryson said. “I’m excited to practice a few more days and take the trip to take on a spectacular team in Hilmar.”