PITTSBURG — Pittsburg started quietly packing up its sideline early in the fourth quarter.

The kicking net came first, then the sideline cameras, then the rest of the equipment. It was a slow, somber retreat on a night where orange confetti rained down on Pirate Stadium but not for the home team.

It was a stinging loss for a prideful program.

The Pirates season came to a brutal end on Saturday night at home after a crushing 55-36 loss to Central East-Fresno in the NorCal Division I-A title game.

“They just made the plays and we didn’t,” Pittsburg coach Charlie Ramirez said. “We were in position, but they just out executed and out competed us.”

Central East running back Brandon Smith rushed for 222 yards and two touchdowns. The Grizzlies racked up 521 yards of total offense and scored

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