Pirates clinch 35-21 win on interception return for touchdown
late in fourth quarter
SAN JOSE — Live Oak’s defense did what it could to keep the Acorns in contention Friday against Piedmont Hills, but the Pirates pulled away with the biggest stop of the night.
Stephen Anderson returned an interception for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter as the Bucs delivered a crushing 35-21 loss to Live Oak in a Mount Hamilton Division game in San Jose.
Trailing by seven, the Acorns (2-5 overall, 2-2 league) were just outside the Piedmont Hills (4-2, 2-2) red zone when Anderson picked off David Pelz.
Live Oak coach Jon Michael Porras was planning to try for a go-ahead 2-point conversion if his team scored. Instead, his Acorns narrowly missed a chance to be in position to clinch a postseason berth against Leigh this week.
“It hurts to lose like that. It was a big game for both teams,” Porras said. “Our guys were a little down afterward. Piedmont Hills has a lot of horses on their team.”
The biggest was the Pirates’ dual-threat quarterback Joshua McCain, who is making a strong case for Offensive Player of the Year honors. The senior threw for 162 yards and three touchdowns on 10-of-14 passing and rushed for another score.
McCain scored six touchdowns against Live Oak a year ago.
“We couldn’t stop McCain,” Porras said. “I still think we played very well tonight. It’s frustrating. Piedmont Hills is a very good team. We definitely had a shot to beat them.”
McCain sandwiched a 25-yard touchdown run and a 40-yard scoring strike to Davonte Rhines in between field goals of 26 and 28 yards by Live Oak’s Jacob Montoya in the first half. The Pirates led 14-6 at halftime before pushing ahead with McCain’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Martin Greer.
Live Oak cut into the deficit when tight end Cody Van Aken scored on a 60-yard catch-and-run (the 2-point conversion failed), and Piedmont Hills’ punter stepped on the end line for a safety.
McCain answered with another touchdown pass, this time a 1-yarder to Devante Williams, but the Acorns pulled within 28-21 on a trick play. Artie Valencia got the ball on a sweep, then threw it 13 yards to Dominic Leach for a score.
Both teams need to win two of their remaining three league games to make the Central Coast Section playoffs. Live Oak has a prime opportunity to help its cause this week against the visiting Leigh Longhorns (3-4, 1-3), who fell 36-6 to Pioneer on Friday. The Acorns host Leland — ranked No. 14 in the county by the San Jose Mercury News — next week before wrapping up the regular season at Santa Teresa on Nov. 11.
“A win this week is huge,” Porras said. “If we win, we’re in the driver’s seat again. We’re playing well, so we have a shot.”
