Sobrato was one pass away from ending its losing streak.
As time was running out and the Bulldogs standing on the Santa Teresa 17, Nick Sicolo dropped back for a pass and looking for a miracle.
Sobrato had converted two key third downs and faced another third down with 25 seconds left in the game and trailing by 5.
But buying himself some time, Sicolo saw a receiver near the goal line and fired a pass. His mark, however, was double covered and the pass was intercepted.
Thus ended Sobrato’s near come back after falling behind 18-0 in the first half to lose 18-13.
The game wasn’t the only loss for the Bulldogs. Injuries, particularly two concussions, are forcing an already patch-worked team to further find ways to keep everything together.
“In true Sobrato fashion, what we’re going to end up doing is spend the next three days putting together the best possible team and we’re going to go out there and get into a dog fight,” said Sobrato coach Albert King on Tuesday.
Sobrato must now take on the elite of the Mt. Hamilton Division, starting with Pioneer tonight in San Jose.
“When you look at what we have remaining — Pioneer, Independence and Oak Grove — you can make an argument that we’re getting into the meat of our schedule,” King said. “And that’s quite a daunting task.”
Pioneer is 3-1 in the Mt. Hamilton Division after losing to Leland last week.
King said the Mustangs are always ready to go out and fight.
“That’s a whole new level. They’re a good team, a very balanced team,” King said. “They spread you out real nice and run the ball real well. Then they bring it in tight and they run the ball well. They’ve got some good athletes over there.”
Pioneer has an overall record of 4-3. Even in its three losses, the Mustangs are putting up points.
They average almost 33 points a game, having dropped a 40 spot three times this year.
Sobrato is susceptible to giving up points, but only once has truly been blown out, that coming in a 55-7 loss to Piedmont Hills.
But ever since its 36-12 loss to Willow Glen, Sobrato has put an added emphasis on the weight room and King said the results are beginning to show.
“They’re starting to see the fruits of their labor. Obviously Santa Teresa was a much bigger team than us, but this is no offense to their coaching staff at all, but they were wearing down. We weren’t.”
