In a game of power football in the trenches, it was Gunderson that flexed its muscles, coming away with a 28-21 win over Live Oak Friday night.
Despite giving up 22 unanswered points, the Acorns found a way to stay in the game but fell just short on their final drive as time was ticking down.
“We expected to see a good battle up front, and the best ground game won,” said Live Oak coach Mike Gemo. “They made more plays than we did. We just had a lapse in judgment coming out of halftime there. And they came out and bit us, and we had to battle back.”
Both teams were content to pound the ball on the ground. Live Oak threw just three times, and Gunderson had four attempts.
Trevor Bearden led the attack for Live Oak, scoring all three touchdowns and rushing for 271 yards on 40 carries.
“He is probably the best player in northern California,” said Gunderson coach Steve Papin, who played in the Arena Football League with the San Jose SaberCats. “When you have a horse like that you ride him. He is just that good. He is going to make you make something happen. We have a couple like that on our team, so we knew there would be a lot of running.”
Papin, who gained 15,413 all-purpose yards during his seven years in the AFL, is no stranger to scoring. Most of his scoring was done as a receiver. But he has embraced the ground game.
It was Live Oak’s ground game that got going with five minutes left to close within 28-21. Gunderson, which had eight penalties in the game, committed a low block that eventually put the ball at the Grizzlies’ 28-yard line after the referees finally figured out the correct spot. The Acorns also drew an encroachment penalty before Bearden ran in from five yards.
The Acorn defense came up with sacks by Brandon Duran and Ryan Quadros and got the ball back near midfield. Bearden picked up a couple first downs, and the Acorns got down to the Gunderson 20-yard line. But on a fourth-and-two play, Bearden was met at the line of scrimmage and driven back two yards.
“We didn’t bring it every play,” Duran said. “We had some plays when we did good but then we wouldn’t block. Bearden can’t do it without help. We can’t give up until the play is over.”
Live Oak (5-3, 2-3 BVAL-ST), which has now has lost its last three games after a 5-0 start to the season, needs to win its final two games against Branham and Leigh to have a chance for a spot in the Central Coast Section playoffs.
Gunderson (7-1, 5-0 BVAL-ST) faces off against Lincoln (6-1, 5-0 BVAL-ST) for the BVAL Santa Teresa Division championship next week.
Gunderson got on the board first with a 66-yard drive on their opening posession. Quarterback Dejon Packer ran through tackles for a 26-yard touchdown with 8:07 left in the first half. But Live Oak answered right back to go up 7-6 with 6:31 left in the first quarter on a 55-yard run by Bearden.
The Acorns pounded the ball for a touchdown drive in the second quarter. Bearden ran the ball on nine of the 10 plays, picking up four first downs and 63 yards on the drive before eventually scoring from 1-yard out. Even though Gunderson knew it was coming, they had no answer. Live Oak took a 14-6 lead at the half.
Gunderson scored on a 68-yard run on the first play from scrimmage with 5:34 left in the third quarter and added a 27-yard touchdown run from Nick Melchor with 1:30 left in the same period. The Grizzlies powered the ball in from 1-yard out with 9:04 left on a play in the game that Live Oak appeared to have recovered but not before the ball was ruled to have crossed the goal line for the go-ahead score.
“Our intensity was there on defense, but we couldn’t execute on the other end,” Quadros said. “We have to pick it up and practice harder.”
NOTES: Live Oak, already short on numbers, has seen its share of injuries. Starting quarterback Dante Spencer injured his hand and had to sit out a series. Backup quarterback Cole Campi replaced him briefly, but was also nursing a back injury. Running back and defensive back Mitch Crowley left the game with an injury “It is all about the next man up,” Gemo said. “We hope we develop them well enough in practice to make it happen.” … The Live Oak JV team lost 19-7. The game was tied 0-0 at the half… Gunderson rushing leaders: DeJon Packer 8 carries for 106 yards, 1 TD; Felipe Negron 9 carries for 119 yards, 1 TD; Nick Melchor 9 carries for 43 yards, 1 TD.
