Needing to break out of a three-game losing skid, the Acorns turned to its biggest offensive weapon Trevor Bearden on Friday. And he delivered.
Bearden ran for 412 yards and four touchdowns on 34 carries to lift Live Oak to a 38-27 victory over Branham. The victory keeps the Acorns dreams of a Central Coast Section berth alive after finishing 1-9 a year ago.
With the win, Live Oak improves to 3-3 inside the Blossom Valley Athletic League’s Santa Teresa Division and 6-3 overall.
In Friday’s win, Live Oak never trailed as the Acorns pounded the ball in the running game to control the clock.
The Acorns scored first in the opening quarter on a 1-yard run by Mark Butterworth. On the next drive, Live Oak scored again, thanks to a 5-yard run from Bearden.
The Acorns only extended their lead from there, thanks to Joey Rodriguez’s 3-yard run to open the second quarter.
Behind Mitchell King, Branham quickly struck back through the air. King threw for 157 yards and three touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough against Bearden and the Live Oak rushing attack.
Bearden punctuated his night with three more touchdowns runs, including one for 65 yards and another for 76.
“We thought we could pound the ball on them and keep the ball away from them,” LO head coach Mike Gemo said. “Once that started working, we kept on doing it. It wasn’t broke so we kept playing the same type of football.”
Bearden was a workhorse for the Acorns, carrying the load, Gemo said.
“He played a great game for us tonight,” he said. “He gutted it out.”
Butterworth, who ran for 52 yards on 10 carries, and Rodriquez, who added 43 yards on six carries, helped Bearden on the ground.
The victory was further proof of how far the team has come in the past 12 months Gemo said.
“It’s a testament to all the hard work these players have put in after last year,” he said.
Live Oak closes its league season on the road against Leigh on Friday.
