Riley Pitkin threw four touchdown passes and Benicia’s defense didn’t let Arroyo get on the scoreboard as the varsity Panthers blanked the visiting Dons, 39-0, Friday night at Drolette Stadium.

BENICIA’S DEFENSE smothered Arroyo quarterback Devin Delatorre, holding him to only one completion all night with four interceptions.

It was Benicia’s first shutout victory since last September and the team’s first win at home this season. More importantly, it gives the Panthers (2-3) a winning streak to cap off non-league play.

“We’re going up and gaining momentum,” said Benicia head coach Craig Holden.

“It felt a lot better than the first three losses,” Pitkin said of Friday’s win. “We’re headed in the right direction, but we still have a lot of work to do.”

Kyle Sinclair’s 30-yard field goal early in the second quarter gave the Panthers a 3-0 lead. Then Pitkin went to work. A quick strike over the middle to Alex Osterholt turned into a 37-yard TD, and less than two minutes later, Pitkin found Osterholt again for a 39-yard TD to make it 16-0.

“(Alex) let me know he was finding open space, so I trusted in him to get the ball in the end zone,” Pitkin said.

Benicia’s defense outscored Arroyo all by itself when Jason Toumbs sacked Devin Delatorre in the end zone for a safety. Benicia then went 53 yards in just over a minute, Pitkin finding Tristan Batten for a 27-yard TD with 12 seconds left to make it 25-0 at the break.

Delatorre had a miserable night for the Dons, completing only 1-of-16 passes for 16 yards and four interceptions. Weston Carr, Manuel Nava, Michael Puza and Blake Pederson each picked off passes, and Michael Soles recovered a fumble.

“We played well all night defensively,” Holden said.

The Panthers opened the second half with an eight-play, 67-yard scoring drive ending with Pitkin finding Batten from a yard out on fourth-and-goal. Carr added a 3-yard touchdown run on Benicia’s next possession to make it 39-0.

Benicia’s second-string defense bent but didn’t break to preserve the shutout. Arroyo went on an amazing 18-play drive, picking up seven first downs along the way and got as close as Benicia’s 16-yard line when Puza grabbed Benicia’s fourth interception of the night.

The Panthers ran the ball effectively for a second-straight game, rushing for 153 yards on 32 carries. A dozen Panthers carried the ball, with Osterholt’s 31 rushing yards leading the way.

“We’re feeling more comfortable running the ball and now we just need to start catching more balls,” Holden said.

Batten came into the game with only one reception but caught a game-high five balls Friday for 70 yards and two TDs.

Benicia has a bye this week and opens Solano County Athletic Conference play with Homecoming against Fairfield on Oct. 10.

Benicia 39, Arroyo 0
Arroyo    0    0    0    0    –    0
Benicia    0    25    14    0    –    39
Second Quarter
Ben – Sinclair 30 FG, 11:56
Ben – Osterholt 37 pass from Pitkin (kick failed), 3:45
Ben – Osterholt 39 pass from Pitkin (Sinclair kick), 2:02
Ben – Gomez sacked in end zone, safety, 1:32
Ben – Batten 27 pass from Pitkin (Sinclair kick), 0:12
Third Quarter
Ben – Batten 1 pass from Pitkin (Sinclair kick), 9:00
Ben – Carr 3 run (Sinclair kick), 5:24
–––––––––––––––––––––––
Arroyo    Benicia
First downs    13    13
Rushes-yards    39-151    32-153
Passing yards    16    204
Comp-Att-Int    1-16-4    10-22-0
Total offense    167    357
Penalties-yards    8-78    10-85
–––––––––––––––––––––––
Individual Statistics
RUSHING: Arroyo – Mailau 10-65, Tafeamalii 14-48, Barajas 3-27, Delatorre 7-5, Moala 4-4, Magallon 1-2; Benicia – Osterholt 3-31, Peterson 4-23, Carr 5-20, Batten 8-20, Jackson 2-19, Butler 1-17, Hutcherson 1-14, Pederson 1-4, Hanson-Regalado 1-3, Maday 1-1, Nava 1-1, Pitkin 4-0.
PASSING: Arroyo – Delatorre 1-16-4-16; Benicia – Pitkin 10-22-0-204.
RECEIVING: Arroyo – Barajas 1-16; Benicia – Batten 5-79, Osterholt 3-89, Shelley 2-36.
JV Score = Benicia 25, Arroyo 0
Freshman Score = Benicia 28, College Park 20

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