Local teams enter stretch run this week
MORGAN HILL — Behind a defense that has become one of the stingiest in the Mount Hamilton Division, Live Oak has resurrected itself as a playoff contender.
The Acorns surrendered an average of 29.8 points in their first four games — all losses — but allowed just three fourth-quarter touchdowns in their last two — both wins. Live Oak has forced 11 takeaways through three league contests and is tied for third in points allowed (49).
That last statistic has one caveat: The Acorns (2-4 overall, 2-1 league) haven’t faced Joshua McCain and the Piedmont Hills Pirates (4-2, 2-1).
McCain, a 6-foot-2 180-pound senior, has passed for 904 yards, rushed for 503 yards and scored a dozen touchdowns in a tailored spread offense. A year ago, he amassed 547 yards and six scores in a 54-47 loss to Live Oak, his first opponent of the season.
“He’s one of the best players in CCS, hands down,” Acorns coach Jon Michael Porras said Wednesday. “He’ll be the best dual-threat quarterback to come out of the league for years to come. … Just a special player.”
Fresh off of slowing Oak Grove’s attack in a head-turning 9-7 win, Live Oak’s defense has another tall order in store at 7 p.m. Friday at Piedmont Hills High. To contain McCain, Porras plans to use one or two extra defensive backs.
“We want to keep him in the pocket and make him throw,” the third-year coach said. “He’s great at running and hitting his receivers. He has a difficult time in the pocket, but he still makes good throws.
“We have a really defense this year. We should be able to stop him.”
The Acorns shouldn’t have trouble scoring. The Pirates gave up 45 points to Pioneer last week and 33 to the Lincoln Lions, whom Live Oak beat 33-13, on Oct. 2. To control the clock and keep McCain off the field, the Acorns will use their old-fashioned veer offense, with Dylan Frechette under center, Blair Zerr and Julio Aguayo at the running back spots and Jacob Montoya outside at slot receiver. Cody Van Aken, a versatile player, also is expected to get carries.
“He’s our most explosive player, and we’ve only gotten him the ball a couple times,” Porras said. “He needs to get the ball more.”
The Acorns are in the midst of a crucial stretch. They host Leigh next week before facing Leland — ranked No. 14 in the county by the San Jose Mercury News — and Santa Teresa to end the regular season. Live Oak is two wins away from clinching one of four playoff spots allotted to the Mount Hamilton.
“There are no cupcakes in this league,” Porras said. “Our confidence was high this week. We think we can make the playoffs, but there are no guarantees.”
The Sobrato Bulldogs feel the same way about their postseason chances. They were riding a four-game win streak and a full head of steam before last Saturday’s 21-14 loss to Mount Pleasant. Sobrato likely needs to win its remaining four contests to have any shot of making the playoffs.
The West Valley Division offers one automatic CCS berth.
“They’re still a lot of possibilities,” Sobrato coach Nick Borello, whose Bulldogs (4-2, 2-1) are in a three-way tie for second behind Mount Pleasant, said Wednesday. “The playoffs are likely, the league title is still a possibility. We have a lot to play for. Some things are out of our control, but some things are in our hands.”
That includes Friday’s 7 p.m. game against Del Mar at Richert Field. The visiting Dons (1-5, 0-3) have lost five straight and are coming off a 46-19 defeat to San Jose.
They primarily use a wing T offense, which gave the Bulldogs trouble in their two losses this year.
“They haven’t looked all that great at times, but I’m sure they’ll be better,” Borello said.
Expect every back in Sobrato’s offense to get plenty of carries this week. Ralph Jackson, Obi Mbonu and Marcus Patrick are primed for career days.
“We’ve got to get our run game going,” Borello said. “We want to be able to do every aspect of our run. Every ballcarrier, every run play we have is going to be in there.”
