Bulldogs can grab share of BVAL lead with a win over Willow
Glen
Morgan Hill – Sobrato will play arguably the biggest football game in its school’s short history when it takes the field on the road against Willow Glen at 2pm Saturday.
The Bulldogs, fresh off a come-from-behind 14-12 win over Andrew Hill, are sitting at 3-1 and in a three-way tie for second place in the Blossom Valley Athletic League West Valley Division. In first place are the Rams, who are 4-0 in league play and 6-1 overall.
A win for Sobrato puts them in a tie for first place with Willow Glen and keeps their dream of a BVAL title alive. A loss drops them two back with two to play and would be a big blow to their playoff chances.
“It feels good to be able to play in a game of this magnitude,” coach Dan Brown said. “We’re treating it like (a playoff game).”
Sobrato, which went 2-8 last season in its first year of varsity competition, is 3-3-1 overall and enters this week looking for its third straight win. Brown said this week’s practice sessions have taken a different tone.
“There’s a sense of focus, a sense of direction,” Brown said.
Brown also sees this game as a chance to put the young school on the map.
“People in the Sobrato community believe we can win, but there’s not one person outside this community,” Brown said. “Our name isn’t really out there, but it could be out there for sure this Saturday with a win.”
Getting a win definitely won’t be easy. The Rams are coming off a 55-14 schellacking of James Lick and their only loss was a 10-6 decision to Monta Vista.
Their explosive offense is led by running back Marcos Garces, who has already racked up 1,113 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. Quarterback Juan Baran has played well, completing 65 percent of his passes for 744 yards and eight touchdowns.
“They are very solid, top to bottom,” Brown said. “They run around and tackle on special teams. There’s no player out of position. … They just kind of line up and say, ‘Hey, beat us.’ ”
Nevertheless, the Bulldogs are entering this game with the mindset that they can win.
“We’re just trying to make plays and we believe until the gun goes off that we have a chance to win,” Brown said.
Sobrato has to be encouraged by the performance of sophomore quarterback Alex Meldrum, who is coming off his most solid performance of the season. He completed 5 of 9 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown and ran the ball in from four yards out for the game-winning score.
The running game, which struggled with only 27 yards on 22 carries, figures to get a boost with the return of Erik Woodruff, the Bulldogs’ leading rusher who missed last week’s game.
Senior lineman Genaro Redmond also showed his ability to be an impact player. The defending Central Coast Section heavyweight wrestling champion had a blocked punt to set up Sobrato’s first touchdown and also blocked the extra-point attempt after Andrew Hill’s first touchdown.
“We’re looking for plays like that,” Brown said.
