Upperclass Acorns keeping team on track — and thinking about
December
MORGAN HILL — One full-contact camp into the offseason, Live Oak football coach Jon Michael Porras can tell there is something special about his senior class.
The players who helped guide the team through a tumultuous spring carried the torch into Friday and Saturday’s Live Oak Football Camp at Richert Field, where the Acorns held their own in scrimmages against Gilroy, Sobrato and Hill — three teams Live Oak will play in fall.
“(The seniors) are very motivated and very close,” Porras said in an e-mail Monday. “They have set the tone, and the juniors have risen to the challenge thus far.”
In summers past under Porras, the Acorns’ loftiest preseason goal was to play the week of Thanksgiving, during the Central Coast Section quarterfinals. This year, the team’s motto is “December is our destination.”
That boost in confidence can be credited to the senior class, which includes several key players who in 2009 helped the Acorns right the ship in time to reach the Division III playoffs. Among them, Blair Zerr led the team in rushing yards (681); Jacob Montoya was the leading scorer (46), Ryan Hennings hauled in the most interceptions (2), and T.J. Ornduff ranked second in sacks (4.5) and fifth in tackles (41).
Montoya and Julio Aguayo were second and third behind Zerr in rushing yards as juniors.
“This group of seniors is very special,” Porras said in the e-mail. “They are very motivated and very close. … We still have a long way to go until September, but they have the right attitude right now. They need to be able to persevere until the end.”
Live Oak’s youngest unit was also one of the most impressive last week. The offensive line, which features one veteran in senior Isaac Camarillo, was ahead of Porras’ expectations.
“The new guys came in and did great,” he said in the e-mail.
The Acorns had spent about three hours on offensive and defensive plays before the camp but still managed well against their future foes.
Live Oak is scheduled to host rivals Gilroy and Sobrato on Sept. 3 and Sept. 17, respectively, and will visit Hill in Mount Hamilton Division play Oct. 15.
“The defense was swarming to the football, and the offense was pretty fluid for the most part,” Porras said. “We have a ton of mistakes to fix, but, for June football, the guys should be proud.”
Live Oak will compete in a passing-league tournament today starting at 2:30 p.m. at Pioneer. The Acorns’ next full-contact camp is scheduled for July 16-17 at Gilroy.
NOTE: San Francisco 49ers center Eric Heitmann visited the camp and mentored players during drills.
