After three years with Trevor Bearden as its team identity, Live Oak returns to the practice field, working to redefine itself now that the career Central Coast Section rushing leader has departed.
“That’s something that’s come up a lot lately,” said returning tackle leader Ryan Quadros. “We lost a lot of our talent on defense and of course offensively with Trevor, but overall, this team works a lot harder that we have in the past few years, at least that I’ve been here.”
The Acorns football team returned to the field after a short hiatus following spring football to gear up in ernest for the coming season.
Live Oak is a bit younger and a little less experienced than last year with a fair number of seniors graduating, but the goal remains the same: Win league and make a push in the CCS playoffs.
Coach Mike Gemo said the younger kids have stepped up this past offseason, hitting the weight room hard to get ready for the new year.
“It’s good to see them motivated to use the weight room this winter and spring,” Gemo said.
The Acorns saw their season come to an abrupt end last year, falling 42-20 to Pacific Grove in the CCS playoffs after a 9-1 regular season campaign that included a Santa Teresa Division championship after going 7-0 in league play.
“That was a good learning lesson for us as a group. We got to see how much work we need to put in the offseason,” Gemo said.
The two biggest pieces that Gemo and the Acorns will look to are the returning quarterback and linebacker.
Live Oak returns its starting quarterback Erik Ornduff, who is coming off a 1,040-yard, eight-touchdown performance as a sophomore. Ahead of his junior campaign, Ornduff is heading off to quarterback camps around the country to help refine his raw talent.
He wasn’t at the start of summer practice this week participating at an University of Michigan camp.
The Acorns are also bringing back tackle leader Quadros, who pulled down 138 total tackles, including a team-leading 75 solo efforts.
Quadros—who will be filling in as one of the leaders of the defense for his departing brother Kyle—has bulked up in the offseason and is impressing his coaches along the way.
Quadros said it was largely thanks to a change in diet.
“Honestly, I cut eight pounds. I got into better shape for myself,” Quadros said. “Just eating better food and lifting just as heavy.”
Along with Ornduff and Quadros, Live Oak will be looking to the likes of Paul Lomanto and Jacob Locsin to carry the ball on offense and have guys such as Billy Bennett continue to develop alone the offensive and defensive lines.
Quadros said the team is up for the challenge.
“Last year, obviously being league champs, there’s going to be a lot of people wanting to knock us off. We have to work a lot harder. We know that we have Xs on our backs so that’s just an extra boost to keep us going and pushing us.”
