A season that was a return to form in so many ways for the Live
Oak High football team got sweeter with the recent announcement of
the all-Tri-County Athletic League football awards. A season after
being left off the all-league first team for the first time in
memory, Live Oak returned in style, placing the second-most players
(five, trailing only league co-champions Palma and Hollister-San
Benito) on the top all-TCAL squad. And, LO skipper Glen Webb was
voted the TCAL Coach of the Year for guiding the Acorns from the
doldrums of a 24-game winless streak into the glory of an 8-3
record, a third-place finish in league and its first Central Coast
Section playoff berth since 2000.
A season that was a return to form in so many ways for the Live Oak High football team got sweeter with the recent announcement of the all-Tri-County Athletic League football awards.
A season after being left off the all-league first team for the first time in memory, Live Oak returned in style, placing the second-most players (five, trailing only league co-champions Palma and Hollister-San Benito) on the top all-TCAL squad.
And, LO skipper Glen Webb was voted the TCAL Coach of the Year for guiding the Acorns from the doldrums of a 24-game winless streak into the glory of an 8-3 record, a third-place finish in league and its first Central Coast Section playoff berth since 2000.
“It’s kind of nice to get picked by your peers, who kind of know what you go through,” Webb said. “(The award was for) being able to get things going when we didn’t have a lot going our way.”
LO players earning all-TCAL first-team recognition included seniors Doug Porras, Dustin Vertin and Shawn Standridge, and juniors Dustin Muhn and Nathan Goldie.
Webb said Porras, who was in his first year of varsity football, just missed being voted the TCAL’s Utility Player of the Year for his versatility.
Porras played receiver, running back, defensive back, kick returner and punter, and even threw a game-winning TD pass. Perhaps his biggest play was picking off a tipped pass in the Gilroy game, a game LO had to win to make the playoffs, and returning it for an apparent TD. The score was called back due to a penalty but LO scored three plays later (including a Porras run) to take a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
“He’s a phenomenal athlete,” Webb said. “It was huge that we were able to get him out (for football). We wouldn’t have been the same team without him.”
Vertin, a two-year varsity starter who played center and called all the blocking audibles, earned a reputation for his smarts (he’s a standout student) and his great work ethic, Webb said. Vertin anchored an offensive line that established itself as one of the TCAL’s best.
Standridge, a flanker who had numerous big runs and catches this fall, caught the eye of several TCAL coaches for his downfield blocking ability, Webb said.
Filling in at linebacker against Gilroy, Standridge tipped the pass that Porras intercepted, and added a 50-plus-yard run on a key LO drive.
Muhn, at tailback, was the Acorns’ workhorse, leading the team in total carries, rushing, and scoring despite his relatively small stature (5-9, 155).
“He had some really hard-earned touchdowns against some tough defenses,” Webb said.
Goldie, a linebacker who called the defensive audibles on the field despite his underclassmen status, is another relentless worker who didn’t miss a practice or an opportunity to work out during the summer, Webb said.
“He has great instincts,” Webb said. “He’s not the biggest middle linebacker but he’s always around the ball.”
Earning all-league second team honors were: senior quarterback David Iseman, senior tight end Tim Abbott, senior linebacker Calvin Ressler, senior offensive lineman Bryson Teixeira and senior defensive lineman Sam Martinez.
“Any other year, those guys are all first-team,” Webb said.
Honorable mention included: senior offensive lineman Justin Frost, senior defensive back Andrew Cummins, senior defensive back Cody Welch, senior defensive back Jeff West, and senior linebacker Michael Marquez.
Vertin and Goldie were selected to the All-Sportsmanship.
Webb also noted the major contributions of players such as sophomore running back Kevin Abbott, senior lineman Oliver Garcia, senior defensive back/receiver Jared Koblis, senior offensive lineman, junior defensive lineman and senior linebacker AJ Avellar, among others.
