Sobrato falls 62-38 at Willow Glen
SAN JOSE
Matching a high-powered team like Willow Glen score for score is an impressive and unstable feat. As soon as they committed their first turnover Friday, the Sobrato Bulldogs seemed bound for a crushing loss.
Mitchell Ravizza, nicknamed “the Real Deal” by opposing coaches, threw for 422 yards and had seven total touchdowns, Mark Amann caught two of Ravizza’s four scoring strikes, and Willow Glen sent the Bulldogs’ postseason hopes down in flames with a 62-38 loss in San Jose.
Sobrato needed to win its final three Santa Teresa Division games to qualify for the Central Coast Section playoffs but can now finish, at best, with 19 schedule points. The last team that made the 2009 postseason had 19 1/2.
“There’s an outside chance, a slim possibility,” Sobrato coach Nick Borello said without optimism. “We’ve got a young team that’s been making the same mistakes all season long. They’re getting better, but it’s a rebuilding season.”
Can it still be considered a successful one? With victories over Evergreen Valley this week and at Westmont on Nov. 12, the Bulldogs (4-4 overall, 2-3 league) can secure their third winning season. And while that would be an accomplishment, Borello quickly noted his team had higher goals before the season.
“There’s no substitute for making the playoffs,” he said. “If we win our next two games, we can look back at it as a rebuilding year that could have gone different.
“Next year, we can make sure it does.”
Daniel Puna rushed for touchdowns from 11 and 21 yards out, Jerry Jacob found the end zone on an 82-yard option keeper, and Shawn Henner booted a 38-yard field goal to help keep the Bulldogs alive early against Willow Glen (6-2, 4-1).
The Rams overcame a 10-7 deficit with 24 points in the second quarter and led 31-17 at halftime.
Sobrato fullback Obi Mbonu rushed for close to 200 yards and scored on runs of 61 and 74 yards to end the game.
The Bulldogs committed five turnovers.
“Every time we gave the ball away, they scored,” Borello said. “They couldn’t stop our offense — we punted once. Our other drives ended with either points or a turnover.”
True to their word, the Bulldogs are playing for pride now. That will be tested Friday when last-place Evergreen Valley comes to town.
