Victory keeps intact Sobrato’s hopes of returning to CCS
playoffs
MORGAN HILL
The dream could have ended Friday, same with the week before.
If the Sobrato Bulldogs can somehow come out on top their last three games, thus completing an improbable five-game win streak to end the regular season, they will have penned the greatest midseason turnaround in program history — and will have a postseason berth with which to celebrate.
You cannot say the Bulldogs aren’t ready for playoff football. They’re experiencing it now.
“We’ve lost two (division) games; we’re out of the league-title race,” Sobrato coach Nick Borello said three days after his team dominated Branham in a 48-26 victory at Richert Field. “Now, we’ve got to win every game if we want any shot at making the playoffs. That’s what it’s come down to for this team. Every week is win or play for pride.”
Special teams aside, the Bulldogs (4-3 overall, 2-2 league) did both Friday while climbing into a tie for fourth place in the Santa Teresa Division. They limited Branham’s offense to two touchdowns, produced three 100-plus yard rushers in running backs Obi Mbonu, Drew Glines and quarterback Jerry Jacob and controlled the second half, running the ball well against a stacked defensive front.
Jacob found the end zone on runs of 68 and 40 yards and also threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to wideout Steven Villarreal in the second quarter when the teams combined for 40 points. Mbonu rushed for two 8-yard scores, and Glines had a 7-yard touchdown run.
Senior Daniel Puna, a 2009 all-league defensive back who missed the first six games for academic reasons, added a 2-yard touchdown run as part of a 27-point fourth quarter for Sobrato.
The Bruins (1-6, 1-3) scored two of their touchdowns on kick-off returns — a third one was called back.
Borello said it was one of his team’s best all-around efforts, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The Bulldogs face another do-or-die situation this week against the Willow Glen Rams and their star quarterback, Mitchell Ravizza.
“Willow Glen is a good football team, but we’re hungry,” Borello said. “Not many people are giving us a chance outside this locker room, as usual. We’re going to give it everything we have.”
