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Pinole running back Dominik Milner, top, is hit by Berkeley defensive back Craig Hilliard during the first half of their prep football game at Berkeley High School in Berkeley, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009. (Dean Coppola/Staff)

Pinole Valley High coach Steve Alameda looked drained Friday night. Not surprising after a dominant defensive performance propelled the visiting Spartans to a stunning 13-10 victory over Berkeley, ending the Yellowjackets' dream of an unbeaten season.

"I've been coaching since 1975 and I've very rarely been an underdog, so I didn't quite know how to approach this week," Alameda said. "I thought we'd try to play it close to the vest. Give maximum effort with minimal mistakes."

Pinole Valley (7-2, 4-2 Alameda Contra Costa Athletic League) took advantage of a fumble by Berkeley's Rickey Galvin with 2 minutes, 18 seconds left in the game and the score tied 10-10. That gave the Spartans the ball at the Berkeley 16-yard line. Three plays later, Pinole Valley kicker Maxwell Naterman nailed a 28-yard field goal for the Spartans' first lead of the game.

"I felt nervous," Naterman said. "On the sidelines they just told me to get ready, the game's in your hands and we believe in you."

Berkeley (9-1, 5-1) got the ball back with 1:33 left and no timeouts, but time expired on the Yellowjackets, who fall into a share of the ACCAL title along with El Cerrito. Berkeley still earns the automatic berth to the North Coast Section playoffs based on its win over the Gauchos.

Galvin, who finishes the regular season with a East Bay-best 1,917 yards, was limited to 37 yards in the first half as Berkeley didn't record a first down until there were 26


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seconds remaining in the second quarter.

Still the Yellowjackets reached the end zone first when Devonte Wallace stole the ball from the hands of the Spartans' Dominik Milner and went 65 yards for a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Pinole made it 7-3 late in the second quarter on a 34-yard field goal by Naterman.

Berkeley got a 42-yard field goal from Alexander Neuhaus with no time left in the half to make it 10-3, and Pinole tied it on Milner's 17-yard third-quarter touchdown run.