The Pioneer Valley High School football program begins the 2018 season with a bye in Week 0, allowing them an extra week to prepare for the switch to the Ocean League and CIF Central Section.
The Panthers are coming off a campaign in which they finished 4-6 overall and fourth in the stacked Los Padres League with a 1-3 record.
Pioneer Valley returns plenty of talent and huge line, that’s definitely an area of confidence for head coach John Ruiz.
"You know, I think we’re going to rely on defense, and I hope the offensive line comes together because we could have a big unit," Ruiz said. "That’s my hope is that our offensive line can get together so we march down the field, take time off the clock from all these spread teams."
"I feel like we’re really confident," senior safety Michael Bourbon added. "We’ve got a lot of key players coming back, a lot of returners, a lot of explosiveness. Our line has picked up so much this year that I feel like we’ve got a good chance."
Pioneer Valley will travel across town to St. Joseph for its first game of the season on August 24.
