Sobrato (1-0) hosts Leland (1-0) at 7 p.m. Friday at Richert
Field
MORGAN HILL — Excluding last year’s playoff game against Wilcox and the annual El Toro Bowl versus Live Oak, Sobrato coach Nick Borello tabbed Friday’s matchup with Leland as the biggest in Sobrato history.
The Bulldogs will host a Mount Hamilton Division team and one of the most respected programs in Silicon Valley at 7 p.m. at Richert Field.
It is more than just a warmup for next week’s meeting with Live Oak.
“This is a really, really big challenge and a big opportunity for us,” Borello said Wednesday. “It’s another chance to show we can play at the elite level, so we’re definitely excited.”
Now in Year 6 of varsity play, the Bulldogs still feel like a team with something to prove. They finished a program-best 8-3 in 2009 with quality wins over Live Oak and Gunderson and are coming off a 28-10 opening victory against Christopher, which trailed by 25 until late in the fourth quarter.
Sobrato is still haunted, though, by last year’s flame-out losses at Soquel and Wilcox. Leland beat Soquel 31-0 a week ago.
“We can’t make any mistakes against them,” Borello said. “This is a typical Leland team. They’re fast, physical, well coached, and they run the ball well. They have some very good athletes.”
The Chargers steamrolled Soquel behind Kenny Portera’s 79 yards rushing and a solid night by quarterback Jason Habash, who completed 6 of 10 for 80 yards passing and two touchdown strikes to wideout Jeff Carnduff.
Portera also intercepted a pass as a defensive back.
“Their running backs, (Portera and Jack Pizzo), are very tough,” Borello said. “I think we match up well with them.”
The Bulldogs could use another big effort from quarterback Jerry Jacob, who ran the option well and was effective off play-action fakes against Christopher. The junior rushed for 43 yards and a touchdown and was 3-of-4 passing for 74 yards.
Fullback Obi Mbonu got his junior year started well, scoring touchdowns on runs of one and 23 yards.
Leland and Sobrato should be ready for each other’s offense; both run the wing-T.
“It’s an old cliche, but this game will come down to which team makes the fewest mistakes,” Borello said.
The Bulldogs held their own against Leland during full-contact scrimmages this summer.
The two teams were on track to face each other in the 2009 Central Coast Section Division II playoffs, but Sobrato lost 48-0 to Wilcox in the first round. Wilcox then beat Leland 47-28.
“They beat up Leland almost as good as they beat us,” Borello said. “If that’s any indication, it should be a great challenge.”
