Acorns continue to dominate Skyhawk opponents outscoring teams
182-14 in first half
Morgan Hill – Live Oak hosted the East Palo Alto Razorbacks, a team they have never beaten, in a showdown of two undefeated teams in the Skyhawk Rugby Conference.
For the second week in a row, the Acorns would face a team that had a size advantage in their forward pack and whose offensive strategy would be to try to pound at a defense off of rucks and mauls. And once again, Live Oak would counter with a swift and dynamic backline, an organized defense and hard tackles.
Soon after the opening kick off, the EPA scrumhalf, using a chip kick, got past the Live Oak defense. Stephen Silveira (Sr., wing) playing great cover-defense ran down the Razorback player before he could cross the Acorn try line. Live Oak dodged a bullet when the tackled Razorback player was called for a penalty for not releasing the ball. It would be the last time EPA would pose a serious offensive threat in the first half.
Possession and field position began to favor the Acorn ruggers but several good scoring opportunities were either squandered by Live Oak or turned away by an aggressive Razorback defense.
With the game clock nearing halftime, EPA found themselves under intense pressure from Live Oak and was called for a penalty. Erik Cifuentes (Sr., 8-man) coolly slotted the kick from 20 meters out and Live Oak was ahead 3-0 at the intermission.
The first 10 minutes of the second half saw neither side do much offensively. But, after a Razorback penalty near midfield Dustin Muhn (Sr., fullback), took a quick tap and caught the EPA defenders napping. The sprint to the try zone wasn’t even close with Muhn touching down for a try between the posts.
The ensuing conversion was converted by Cifuentes and Live Oak was sporting a 10-0 advantage. The next ten minutes saw more domination by Live Oak.
In both line outs and scrums, the Acorn forwards would frustrate their larger counterparts form EPA and deny the Razorbacks of desperately needed possession. The hard work would soon pay off.
Following a bone-crunching tackle by Victor Kalata (Jr., center) the rest of Acorn ruggers began to raise their game to a level EPA could not match. After intense offensive pressure by Live Oak and after two more Razorback penalties, the Acorns had an overlap out wide and Kalata touched down for a try at the 25 minute mark. The conversion was no good, but Live Oak had a 15-0 lead with 10 minutes to play.
EPA would not go down easily. Showing a true warrior spirit, the Razorbacks mounted a comeback and scored a try between the posts with 7 minutes to play. The conversion was good and the score now was 15-7, Live Oak. The last minutes of play were hotly contested by both sides but too many penalties and a fierce determination from Live Oak would be the final undoing for the visitors. The final score favored Live Oak, 15-7.
Live Oak’s record is an impressive 11-1 (4-0 in league) and the Acorns will take on two-time defending Skyhawk Champion Silicon Valley next Saturday. Game time will be announced later. Live Oak has now outscored its 12 opponents this season, 182-14 in the first half of play.
In the second game of the day, College Park would take on Live Oak’s “B-side.” College Park was a late addition to the schedule after their Friday night game at Aptos had to be rescheduled due to snow closure of Highway 17.
College Park, defeated earlier this season by Live Oak 47-5, would earn their first victory of the season against Live Oak’s “B-side”, 14-5. College Park would forge a 14-0 half time lead against the young Acorn side. The second half saw a much better defensive effort by Live Oak, completely shutting down the Rambler’s offense. Mike Villalobos (Sr., scrumhalf) scored a try for the home team near full time. Final score favored the visitors, 14-5.
Last week the Acorns defeated the national champion runners-up, Elsie Allen team, 17-15, in Santa Rosa. The victory over the Lobos was a big one for the Live Oak program, building their confidence as they head into the tough part of conference play.
