Live Oak wanted nothing more than to keep its good feelings going following a blowout win over Leigh, but smoky conditions got in the way.
The Acorns were forced to delay their homecoming game a week after the Blossom Valley Athletic League cancelled games last week.
Now that the practice and play restrictions are lifted, the Acorns are chomping at the bit to get back at it against Santa Teresa.
“Santa Teresa is always a fun game. It’s a big game since coach Alfano and I know each other so well.”
In front of them is a stout opponent whose record hides what the Saints are capable of.
Santa Teresa sit at 2-4 overall and 1-2 in league play, but have had three of those games decided by one score, including two 16-14 losses.
But the biggest feather in the Saints cap is a win over Oak Grove, a first in 30 years.
That win helped to set the tone for league play that now sits with Westmont, Live Oak, Oak Grove and Lincoln in a four-way tie for first.
That will be reduced by at least one team as Oak Grove and Lincoln play each other this week.
Behind them are the four other teams of the division all tied for second.
Only the top four teams receive automatic bids into the playoffs.
“The kids don’t want the season to end anytime soon,” Gemo said. “They understand they have to come into practice and enjoy practice as much as playing in a game. They feel like we can go into any game and get a win.”
To get a W Friday night, Live Oak is going to need to battle a modified Wing-T offense that Santa Teresa runs.
The Saints will run its offense out of a shotgun look, but plays with a wing that will heavily run the ball.
“We have to play gap control against them so they don’t break out a big run against us,” Gemo said. “We have to know what zones we’re covering put pressure on them and we’ll be OK.”
Kickoff for Friday’s game is set for 7 p.m.
The homecoming festivities will go on as planned from last week. This year, however, there will not be a parade of floats. The parade, that traditionally went from Live Oak to the library and back along Main Street, was already set to not continue.
