Deuces are wild in Pelham. On Saturday, Nov. 22, the Pythons defeated St. Thomas Aquinas, 22-0, for a second consecutive Division V title. The Pythons posted a 22- 0 mark in the perfect two-year stretch.

Senior running back Bruce Vieira pounded the ball into and through the Saints’ defense all day, rushing for 135 yards, three touchdowns and two twopoint conversions in producing every PHS point.

“All week, coach said he was going to give me the ball as much as he could …,” said Vieira. “Coach is a man of his word.”

The Pythons took the opening drive 80 yards and scored on the senior’s 9-yard jaunt with 1:58 remaining in the first quarter.

“We were going to pound the rock all day, and we did,” said Pelham’s head coach, Tom Babaian. “The key this year was understanding a common goal. Anything less than a championship this year was unacceptable.”

St. Thomas was poised to score on multiple occasions, but each time the Pythons responded by forcing a turnover.

With 3:42 remaining in the first half, Josh Luciano came up with an interception at the Pelham 1-yard line, and early in the second half he made another red zone interception to preserve the lead.

Pelham’s Corey Peterson recovered a fumble in the end zone, thwarting an opportunity for the Saints to at least tie the game with 11 seconds remaining in the first half. The Pythons also recovered a fumble in the third quarter that led to Vieira’s second score of the day, a 3-yard touchdown with 1:45 remaining in the stanza.

“That’s been the story all year,” said Babaian. “They’ve been faced with adversity, and they’ve come back from it all year. Getting the shutout was extra sweet, because this defense has played so well.”

Vieira’s final score of the game came with 6:16 remaining in the contest on a 5-yard dash that capped an 11-play drive. The senior back ran on 10 of those plays.

Babaian said having a running back he could trust to hold the ball was key throughout the season.

“If he isn’t the best player in the state, I don’t know who is,” said Babaian. “There aren’t too many backs that you can rely on like that.”

After the final seconds ran off the clock, Babaian experienced first-hand what has also made Vieira a solid defensive player as well; the coach was tackled to the ground by his standout player.

“He’s my best friend,” said Vieira. “We’ve shared a lot over the last few years, and not a lot of people have relationships with their coach like I do.”

After earning a second consecutive Division V title, Babaian had only one question.

“Where’s the damn plaque?” said Babaian as he walked among his exuberant players. “Let’s do some celebrating!”