Muhn’s try, conversion and penalty kick help push Acorns to
15-10 victory
MORGAN HILL — The Live Oak Acorns and Silicon Valley Durabos entered the third week of Skyhawk Conference play each with something to prove. The Durabos, riding a five-game winning streak, were looking for their first win against the Live Oak ruggers since April 2005. The Durabos’ potent offense also was looking to break the 50-point mark for the third consecutive week. The Acorns were hoping to reverse their current three-game skid and extend their five-game win streak over Silicon Valley.
Saturday’s showdown in Morgan Hill opened well for the Durabos, but the Acorns put together a stellar second half — highlighted by senior center Alex Muhn’s try, conversion and penalty kick — to secure a 15-10 victory.
Silicon Valley took the opening kickoff and controlled play for the first five minutes. The Durabos’ 8-man deftly made a blind-side move from a scrum inside Live Oak’s 22-meter zone and scored an unconverted try, putting Silicon Valley ahead 5-0.
The Acorns responded well. Senior srumhalf Nick Ferguson got Live Oak on the board with an unconverted try at the 25-minute mark. The Acorns continued to press Silicon Valley, forcing several bad outlet passes and knock-ons with aggressive defense.
With time winding down in the first half, Live Oak’s offense was closing in on Silicon Valley’s try line. But the Durabos’ defense held firm, keeping the score knotted 5-5 at halftime.
The Acorns seized momentum early in the second half when Muhn took a perfect miss pass from Joe Guidry in stride and knifed through the Silicon Valley defense untouched to score a try between the goal posts. Muhn added the conversion to push Live Oak ahead 12-5 at the 40-minute mark.
Silicon Valley did not stay down. The Durabos scored an unconverted try 15 minutes later, narrowing the deficit to 12-10.
With 10 minutes left, Silicon Valley was penalized for not releasing the ball, and Muhn converted a penalty kick to extend the Acorns’ lead, 15-10.
The Durabos had a final chance to score as time wound down, but Live Oak’s defense rose to the occasion. The Acorns’ forward pack won a much-needed scrum, and Ferguson kicked the ball into touch to end the game — and clinch a sixth straight victory over Silicon Valley.
Live Oak continues Skyhawk play at 1 p.m. Saturday at home versus Valley Christian. The game will be played at Live Oak High School.
