Group laying groundwork for much-improved season
MORGAN HILL — Grading Live Oak’s offense in 2009 is a tough task, especially for those involved.
The group struggled mightily through the first half of the regular season, turning the ball over 18 times as the Acorns started 1-4. Coach Jon Michael Porras switched back to a full-time veer offense — Live Oak had tinkered with the pistol formation — and the Acorns (4-7 overall, 4-3 league) scored three touchdowns or more in their final four Mount Hamilton Division games while making the Central Coast Section playoffs, though much of the credit was due to their rugged defense.
The final verdict was in Tuesday at Live Oak High School.
“You almost want to grade in two separate semesters,” said LOHS running backs coach Scott Matthews, driving a hard bargain.
“The first half was an F, and the second half was probably a B-minus or something like that,” Porras said.
The message was clear.
“We’re looking for a lot more improvement this year,” running back Blair Zerr said.
There is plenty of room for it — and plenty of the right people to make it happen. Live Oak’s offense returns eight players who started or saw playing time at the varsity level in 2009. That includes skill-position players: Z-backs Jacob Montoya and Artie Valencia, quarterback David Pelz, former tight end Cody Van Aken, who has been a better fit at running back, and Zerr — is there any better name for a ball-carrier than Blair Zerr (think “Blerr”)?
“Our skill guys can play with anyone,” Porras said. “We expect big things from them.”
The lone veteran on the offensive line is 5-foot-8, 220-pound senior Isaac Camarillo, but he’s no stranger to his supporting cast of possible starters: strong guards David Robertson and Ruben Magana, quick guard Jonathan Molina, strong tackle Dominic Holmes and quick tackle Danny Galli. Most of them played together on the junior varsity team two years ago.
“It’s not really starting over. We just need to get better at what we have to do,” Camarillo said.
To a man, Porras and his staff are pleased with the offensive players’ drive during the first week of fall training camp. Tuesday, they jumped forward for inside-run drills, a sign they are ready to play with the smash-mouth mentality needed to successfully run the veer.
“The whole offseason, we were pushing each other to get better. We were excited to get back out here and go to work,” said Zerr, who rushed for almost 700 yards while splitting carries a year ago. “We all wanted to improve. For me, it was getting bigger in the weight room and running more to get faster.”
Now a 6-foot-1, 175-pound senior, Zerr hopes to eclipse 1,000 yards in 2010. Van Aken should be just as effective as more of a powerback; he takes and dishes hits year-round as a catcher during baseball season.
“They should be a good mix. They’re both hard workers,” Matthews said. “We’re looking forward to having a good year from them.
“We weren’t getting the most out of Cody when he played tight end. He’s going to do more for us at running back.”
The starting quarterback spot has boiled down to a tight competition between Pelz and Dominic Bejarano. Aside from being seniors, they have little in common.
“David’s more a passer type; Bejarano is more of a runner type. They both have a good presence,” said Porras, who did not rule out using both this year. “We’re going to go with whatever we feel gives us the best chance to win games.”
Matthews added: “Their teammates respect both of them. That’s the most important part.”
There is an old saying about quarterback controversies, “If you have three (or two), you don’t have one.” Though there is truth behind that, competition tends to bring out the best in athletes. It has for Pelz and Bejarano.
“They’re starting to get the best out of each other,” Porras said. “At the beginning of the season, we’ll see. We’ll have to evaluate them.”
On the other side of the ball, Live Oak’s defensive players looked equally good for this early in the season, making sure tackles and good reads. The group is fast and physical once again.
It should have a fair challenge on its hands each day at practice.
“We’re going to need the offense to carry more of a weight this year,” Porras said. “But it’s going to take our entire team to have a great season.”
