Live Oak continued Bay Conference play Saturday, hosting Gold
Division foe San Francisco-Golden Gate at Live Oak High School and
losing a 22-18 heartbreaker.
Live Oak continued Bay Conference play Saturday, hosting Gold Division foe San Francisco-Golden Gate at Live Oak High School and losing a 22-18 heartbreaker.
After losing to 2006 National Champion Jesuit in the finals of the Kick-Off Tournament in Sacramento last month, SFGG was expected to be a league contender. But after two rounds of league play, both teams were still looking for their first league win.
Live Oak came out strong to open the game. Featuring a starting lineup of five sophomores, six juniors and only four seniors, the Acorns opened an 11-5 halftime lead on a try by sophomore Nick Ferguson sandwiched between two penalty kicks by sophomore Alex Muhn.
Live Oak’s try came after SFGG was under intense defensive pressure inside their 10 meter line. SFGG committed a too many players at a ruck penalty and the Acorns capitalized when Ferguson touched down for a try. The conversion was missed.
When the second half opened, SFGG quickly went to work with their huge forward pack taking a line out and mauling it over for a score. The conversion bounced off the left goal post and Live Oak had a slim one point lead, 11-10.
The next 15 minutes saw a lot of back and forth action. Live Oak would exploit SFGG on the outside with their speed advantage and SFGG would use thundering tight strikes by their forward pack.
With about 10 minutes to play, the Acorns had another overlap on the outside and Ferguson would touch down for his second try. Muhn made the conversion and Live Oak had an 18-10 lead.
SFGG went back to work with their tight forwards and scored again quickly. The conversion was missed but the Acorns lead was sliced to three, 18-15.
As time was running down, Live Oak was defending at its own goal line when an apparent knock on by SFGG was overturned by an offside infraction by Live Oak.
SFGG powered in for the go-ahead score and full time was called after the conversion was made.
Things don’t get easier for Live Oak. The Acorns travel to Moraga on Saturday to take on league leading Lamorinda at 2:45pm and the following weekend they host Jesuit. The game time for Jesuit has not been determined yet.
