Live Oak’s regular season finished off with a strong showing against Willow Glen and now the Acorns are gearing up for the start of the Central Coast Section Open Division III playoffs.
Following its 56-28 win over the Rams, Live Oak earned the No. 4 seed in the playoffs and will open at home against Monte Vista Christian 7 p.m. Friday.
“We knew we were getting into the playoffs, it was just a matter of against who and where,” said coach Mike Gemo. “We were lucky enough to get a home game.”
The two teams last clashed two years ago with the Mustangs coming away with a 31-28 victory.
Gemo said there are some similarities to the 2014 meeting to this year, but hopes that there will be a different outcome.
“I think it’s going to be another close game like it was two years ago,” Gemo said.
Gemo said defensively, MVC is stout, especially with John Zheng leading the defensive line, Cory Margo at linebacker and Nick Arroyo at corner.
Offensively, freshman Darnell Deas, Jr., has been carrying the load for the Mustangs
“Offensively is really good,” Gemo said.
After losses to league frontrunners Palma and San Benito in the Gabilan Division of the Monterey Bay League, MVC finished off the regular season at Christopher where the Cougars held on until a late field goal put the Mustangs on top 31-28.
“Christopher probably played hard its final home game and Monte Vista took them too lightly. I don’t know. I thought there was good play on both sides of the ball. They just both played hard.”
But Gemo is confident that his boys can flip the script on Friday from two years ago.
“We’re playing really good football right now especially without Jacob Ryder,” Gemo said. “With him being fully healthy this week, it’s just going to make us a better football team.”
Leading that charge are a pair of youngsters in quarterback Jonathan Singleton and running back Cole Davis.
“Cole has made big improvements from the beginning of the year until now,” Gemo said. “He understands that he can get this job done when Jacob is gone and he knows it’s going to be his team next year.”
