Sobrato football coach Nick Borello said the winner of this game will gain an inside track to the Santa Teresa Division title, and not just because it’s the first league game.
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This is certainly a huge early test for both of us,
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Borello said Wednesday.
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You’re talking about two of the better teams in the league, so obviously it has some serious league implications.
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Live Oak (1-2) vs. No. 9 Leland (3-0), 7 p.m. Friday, Richert Field
With two section champions and seven teams that made the playoffs in 2010, the Mount Hamilton Division is arguably the area’s second-toughest league.
Live Oak opens with one of the heaviest hitters in Leland, the No. 9-ranked team in the county.
The Chargers are as fast and physical as any Mike Carrozzo-coached team. They are led by Boise State-bound fullback/linebacker Chris Santini (294 yards rushing, nine touchdowns, 11 tackles a game) and 6-foot-4 senior quarterback Jason Habash (694 yards passing, five touchdown passes). They also feature a multithreat receiver/defensive back in Kenny Portera (607 total yards, six touchdowns).
Leland won last year’s meeting 41-0.
“They’re one of the top two teams in our league,” LOHS coach Mike Gemo said. “Everyone wants to key on Santini, but (Portera) is good; (Habash) is good. Their front five, they produce sacks.
“They’re an all-around good football team.”
Although the Acorns — no longer winles after Sobrato forfeited its Sept. 17 El Toro Bowl victory — appear overmatched on paper, Gemo believes they can pull the upset with their usual ground-and-pound strategy, using heralded sophomore tailback Trevor Bearden (435 yards rushing, 244 yards receiving, seven touchdowns).
“We’re gonna see if we can spread the out maybe a little bit, but we do what we do,” said Gemo, whose team is at full strength after a Week 3 bye. “I liked the way our line blocked against Sobrato. I think we’re getting better. We’re hoping for more ball control this week.”
Sobrato (0-3) vs. Westmont (2-1), 6 p.m. Saturday, Richert Field
Sobrato football coach Nick Borello said the winner of this game will gain an inside track to the Santa Teresa Division title — and not just because it’s the first league game.
“This is certainly a huge early test for both of us,” Borello said Wednesday. “You’re talking about two of the better teams in the league, so obviously it has some serious league implications.”
Sobrato won last year’s meeting 42-35 on a late touchdown run by Drew Glines.
The Warriors, like Sobrato, returned plenty of talent from 2010, including impact running backs Ian Harvel and Trevor Ross, who also heads a stingy defense at linebacker.
Coming off a bye, the Bulldogs are well rested but still banged up, Borello said.
“We’re not as healthy as we’d like to be, but we should be ready come Saturday,” he said.
