Morgan Hill – The Live Oak football team dropped a close road
game 26-20 Friday night to the Piedmont Hills High School
Pirates.
Morgan Hill – The Live Oak football team dropped a close road game 26-20 Friday night to the Piedmont Hills High School Pirates.
The Pirates dominated the first quarter, jumping to a 13-0 lead, as Live Oak struggled to get anything started.
“We didn’t look good at all, but towards the end of the first our offense started to click,” Live Oak head coach Jon-Michael Porras said.
Live Oak started gaining some momentum as junior Jeff Reports took over at quarterback for Live Oak towards the end of the first quarter.
Porras brought Roberts, 16, into the game for his ability to run the ball, as the Pirates defense continually pressured senior quarterback Tim O’Rourke.
“Tim started but he was getting a lot of pressure,” Porras said. ” And Jeff is extraordinarily fast and can get eight, 10, 15 yards: the big yard gains.”
With six seconds left in the half, the Acorns tried to turn something into nothing as Roberts fired a deep ball, which was intercepted by the Pirates and returned for a touchdown.
The Acorns went into the half facing a 20-6 deficit, and with no momentum.
“We really challenged them at half time,” Porras said. “I just challenged their drive and motivation because they weren’t getting it done … I challenged their heart and their courage, and some of our underclass players really stepped up.”
Porras said he reminded them of a couple big comebacks they made in years past, and told them that if they believed they could do it, then they would.
The players responded in the third quarter with two touchdowns, and went into overdrive early in the fourth quarter.
Live Oak tied the game at 20-20 on a touchdown carry from Jeff Blean, but the Pirates proved the better team scoring on their ensuing possession.
The Acorns got the ball back, but were forced to punt as the Pirates continued to bring heavy defensive pressure.
The tide seemed to turn the Acorns as the Pirates fumbled the punt and Live Oak recovered, but Live Oak then fumbled on the next play giving back the ball.
Live Oak’s defense stepped up big, again forcing Piedmont Hills to punt, and giving the Acorn’s offense another, late, chance.
“We got the ball on the 20-yard line and this was the first time our passing game clicked and was also able to scramble for big gains,” Porras said. “We got to the 15 with about a minute left, but they started to double team Kyle Hennings, and we just could not get a first down.”
The Pirates took over on a turnover on downs at the eight-yard line with 36 seconds left in the game.
The Acorns finished the game with 180 yards rushing and 147 yards passing.
Roberts kept the Acorns in the game with 65 yards on 14 carries, and one touchdown, and went 6-13 passing for 147 yards and one touchdown.
“This was the most yards passing on varsity in three years,” Porras said.
Senior wide receiver Stephen Smith had three catches for 82 yards, senior Kyle Hennings had two catches for 39 yards and a touchdown, and Jeff Blean had three carries for 11 yards and a touchdown.
“It was a tale of two halves: they dominated the first quarter and a half and we dominated the second half,” Porras said. “We grew as a team in the second half and showed we could play with anybody if we play as a team, but it was too little too late, and a playoff caliber team has to find a way to pull that out.”
Porras said the Acorns are a playoff caliber team, but they have to begin proving it with consistency.
“As far as I am concerned the playoffs start now,” he said.
