Because of scheduling conflicts, the Live Oak and Sobrato
football teams won’t have a full slate of two-a-days this year
MORGAN HILL — Remember the good old days of high school football, when teams kicked off the season with a hard-hitting, weeklong set of two-a-day practices?
Because of scheduling conflicts, Live Oak and Sobrato players get a break this year. As announced in early March, Central Coast Section programs cannot begin full-contact practice until Monday, the day before Morgan Hill students go back to class.
In May, Morgan Hill Unified School District designated Aug. 18 its start date.
“It’s just weird,” Live Oak coach Jon Michael Porras said. “It kind of hurts Morgan Hill Unified, because other teams in other districts get a full week. It really hurts us. It’s just frustrating.”
Sobrato coach Nick Borello notified Porras of the schedule clash last week after Borello scrolled through the CCS rulebook online.
“We could still have two-a-days this week, but no gear,” said Borello, who is starting his second year as head coach. “Next week will be like a regular midseason week of practice.”
Both coaches downplayed the lack of a true Hell Week being a problem.
“We’re just going to make it so there are no negatives,” Porras said. “We’ve had lots of time already in pads this summer (at full-contact camps). If we didn’t have that time, it’d be a negative.
“We’re going to use the time this week for teaching fundamentals.”
Borello said he and his staff may hold a two-a-day next Saturday.
“This might not be so bad for us; We’ve trained all summer,” he said. “Going through a full week of doubles can be dangerous.”
Porras and Borello plan to make the most of Monday.
“We might make it a triple day. It’s going to be hard,” Porras said.
NOTE: Both programs have released their 2009 schedules (they are listed below). Live Oak opens nonleague play Sept. 4 at Gilroy, while Sobrato begins Sept. 11 at Gunderson. The Morgan Hill rivals will square off in El Toro Bowl III Sept. 25 at Richert Field — the site of both teams’ home games. Live Oak has won both previous meetings.
2009 Regular season schedules
LIVE OAK
Sept. 4 at Gilroy 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11 Salinas 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 Sobrato** 7 p.m.
Oct. 2 at Pioneer* 7 p.m.
Oct. 9 Lincoln* 7 p.m.
Oct. 16 Oak Grove* 7 p.m.
Oct. 23 at Piedmont Hills* 7 p.m.
Oct. 30 Leigh* 7 p.m.
Nov. 6 Leland* 7 p.m.
Nov. 13 at Santa Teresa* 7 p.m.
SOBRATO
Sept. 11 at Gunderson 7 p.m.
Sept. 18 at Soquel 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 Live Oak** 7 p.m.
Oct. 2 at Silver Creek* 7 p.m.
Oct. 10 San Jose* 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 17 Mount Pleasant* 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 23 Del Mar* 7 p.m.
Oct. 30 at Yerba Buena* 7 p.m.
Nov. 6 at Overfelt* 7 p.m.
Nov. 13 James Lick* 7 p.m.
(*) denotes league contest
(**) denotes neutral site
