Live Oak will go up against one of their biggest challenges this
season when they take on Palma tonight in Salinas.
Live Oak will go up against one of their biggest challenges this season when they take on Palma tonight in Salinas.
“They will pose a great challenge,” Glen Webb, Acorn head coach said.
Palma is 3-0 in league play, 6-2 overall. They defeated Gilroy 27-0 in a game completely dominated by the Chieftains.
In order to counter the threat that Palma poses, Live Oak will need to shut down two threats, like in the Salinas game last week.
The quarterback is the leading rusher for the team, and will run at any time, according to Webb. The next leading running back for Palma rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns against Gilroy.
“They’ve got a great offensive skills,” Webb said. “Running back Luke Lippincott and quarterback Chad Bozzo are obviously a threat. Bozzo is not as fast as (Ronnie) Drummer (of North Salinas), but he’s a threat.”
Webb says that the team will be a tough challenge against the team that will battle with Hollister for league dominance. He says that the Chieftains do many things well, but that could be the key to success for Live Oak.
“They do a few things that they do very well,” Webb said. “But with that, they have some degree of predictability.”
In years past, the Palma, Live Oak game has been a slug fest. Recent games have been decided by only one point. Last year’s game was played in the rain where the Acorns were defeated on three touchdowns by the Chieftain quarterback.
“Anything can happen,” Webb said. “There is a good history of a rivalry. Live Oak has always given them a good game. Anything can happen.”
Live Oak is coming of a loss to Salinas where they didn’t get on the score board until mid-way through the fourth quarter.
“Salinas has a strong offensive line,” Webb said. “It’s all in how you match up from week to week. We played a respectable game: we could have done better, but we did not fall apart.”
The battered Acorns will sideline one player due to injury, but will also bring back two from the injured list.
Defensive lineman Marcus Rosevear went down late in the second half against Salinas with a soft tissue injury to his calf and ankle. Tight-end Zach Frates and linebacker Allan Huggins will both see action tonight after sitting out the past few games.
