As the final seconds ticked away on last Friday night
’s season finale, the Live Oak High football team’s seniors saw
their final game for the Acorns end in disappointment.
As the final seconds ticked away on last Friday night’s season finale, the Live Oak High football team’s seniors saw their final game for the Acorns end in disappointment.
And, the players let their emotions out as Gilroy won 14-6 in the game that went down to the wire.
Every player, especially the seniors, gave it their all during last Friday night’s game, and came up literally a few yards short when a last-gasp drive ended inside the Gilroy five-yard-line as time ran out.
It was a testament to the long seasons the players had to endure, going winless two years in a row. Live Oak finished with an 0-9-1 record this season, extending its winless streak to 24 straight games.
“It’s hard,” said senior running back Brian Crane. “We worked so hard. We played four years and we always fought.”
The team said goodbye to 14 seniors Friday night, in a Seniors Night ceremony that featured the players being introduced with their parents before the final game.
Not all their high school football years were bad for those who played in the green and gold uniforms. Many came up through the Pop Warner youth football system, and played all three levels of football for the Acorns.
During that time they forged friendships and pushed each other during the tough times.
“It was the best four years of my life,” senior defensive back Nick Rauschnot said. “Football was more than winning; it builds character and it builds friendships. (My teammates) were the best friends I ever had. They were always there, even when we didn’t win.”
For Rauschnot, football gave him a drive to succeed in school. It gave him a reason to build his grades.
“It gave me something to work for,” he said.
The football team never seemed to give up, either last Friday night or during the entire season, even when the game looked hopeless. The Acorns always had one last trick up their sleeves that made them a threat at any time.
Senior quarterback Steve Conner was so versatile he could play several roles well, including passer, runner and receiver. He was always a threat to run the ball, he could pass and was even one of the best receivers on the team.
Senior running back Daniel Salinas was explosive, always giving his best when he was handed the ball. On many occasions he could make something out of nothing and would light a spark that the Acorns used to ignite their hopes.
Senior defensive back Miguel Ayala always seemed to be in the middle of the big defensive stops.
“We tried our hearts out,” Ayala said. “It was a great four years.”
The team worked hard this year, despite its record. Each game, the Acorns put up a fight, mainly under the leadership of their seniors.
