ALLENTOWN - It could have been a trap.

And for nearly three quarters, it was.

Instead, Pleasant Valley clawed its way out of danger and put together a determined effort en route to a 41-16 Eastern Pennsylvania Conference victory over Dieruff on Friday night.

Dieruff’s defense was keeping Pleasant Valley’s triple-option in check. And the Huskies were hitting some splash plays on offense that had the Bears’ reeling.

After a 63-yard touchdown pass from Jordey Guzman to Noah Ozorio with 9:30 to play in the third quarter, winless Dieruff led undefeated Pleasant Valley 16-6.

But the Bears (4-0) responded, and they did it through the air, with quarterback Valentino Byers-Robinson hitting Jarod Moore for a 44-yard score to cap a quick three play drive that covered 58 yards and cut the deficit to 16-13 with 7:53 to play in the third quarters.

It also kicked off a run of 35 unanswered points for Pleasant Valley.

“We may have changed a little bit of the scheme during halftime, but nothing else changed,” said Byers-Robinson. “It was just that we had to persevere, we had to get through it, fight adversity and we did it.”

Byers-Robinson finished the game 3-of-5 passing for 108 yards and a touchdown, with each of his completions going for at least 30 yards. He entered Friday night 0-for-2 passing on the season.

“I’ve been telling everybody for weeks, when somebody forces us to throw, we will throw, and we threw tonight,” said Bears’ head coach Blaec Saeger. “We can. I said to Val at one point, ‘I really like the way you’re running this offense.’ He is really getting a feel for it, and his reads, and his actions; when to run, when to give, when to pitch. He’s really doing well. He’s a great kid, I’m very happy we have him and I’m very proud of him.”

Byers-Robinson had 75 of his passing yards in the second half, all to Moore, who finished with two grabs.

The junior also added 76 yards rushing and two scores, including the go-ahead touchdown from one yard out with 23.9 seconds to play in the third quarter to put Pleasant Valley ahead for the first time at 20-16.

The Bears scored on their next two possessions.

Fela Olaniyan (18 carries, 78 yards) punched it in from seven yards out and Mario Mondillo returned an interception 37 yards on the Huskies’ (0-4) next series to make it 34-16 with 8:41 to play in the fourth quarter.

After Pleasant Valley stopped Dieruff’s next drive on fourth down, Moore (11 carries, 26 yards) capped a six play, 41-yard drive a one-yard touchdown before Rory Robinson’s extra point made it 41-16 with 3:00 to play.

“It feels good, because even when we’re down, we can persevere,” said Mondillo. “I just love my team.”

The Bears were off an emotional 7-6 win over East Stroudsburg South last week, and Dieruff jumped out to an early advantage.

The Huskies scored on their opening drive, with Mekhi Ashby darting in from 25 yards out and Guzman adding the two-point conversion to make it 8-0 early in the first quarter.

Byers-Robinson got Pleasant Valley on the board with a 13-yard run with 1:05 to play in the first half, but Dieruff stopped the two-point try.

The Bears’ defense came up with a big play late in the first half, when Leadell Burpo made a pick with 15.5 seconds to play and Dieruff at the PV 34-yard line.

Pleasant Valley had a quick three-and-out on its first drive of the second half before Guzman, who threw for 192 yards, hit Ozorio for a deep score on the second play of the Huskies’ first drive of the second half.

“That final score was not indicative of what this game was,” said Saeger. “Dieruff was fantastic tonight, and they played so well, but it kind of got away from them at the end.”

UP NEXT

... Pleasant Valley hosts rival Pocono Mountain East next week in the annual Bucket Game.

MAKING A SPLASH

... Byers-Robinson hit Gavin Bauman for a 33-yard pass for his first completion on the first play of a drive after the Bears came up with a big defensive stand on fourth down late in the second quarter. Pleasant Valley capped the series with a touchdown run from Byers-Robinson.