Morgan Hill The Live Oak football team capped the 2007-08
regular season with an important win over division rival Lincoln
High School 36-28.
Morgan Hill
The Live Oak football team capped the 2007-08 regular season with an important win over division rival Lincoln High School 36-28.
“We can say we clinched the playoffs on our own,” head coach Jon Michael Porras said. “It gives us the chance for a home field playoff game, and we have a huge advantage at home.”
The Acorns finish with a 4-2 home record on the season, and head into the first round of the CCS playoffs with a home game against cross-town rival Sobrato.
On Friday, the Lincoln Lions drew first blood with a goal line touchdown pass early in the first quarter, but they failed on the two-point conversion.
The Acorns quickly answered back with a passing TD of their own when junior quarterback Jeff Roberts found senior wide receiver Tim O’Rourke from 19-yards out for the score.
Senior kicker Casey Mott’s kick was blocked, and the teams remained tied through the first quarter.
On the first play of the second quarter, Roberts ran the ball in from five yards out to give the Acorns the lead.
Mott’s kick was good, pushing the score to 13-6.
The Live Oak defense stepped up in a major way, bringing pressure to the backfield and deflecting passes in the air.
Halfway through the second, on a first-and-ten from the 45 yard line, Live Oak got crafty.
Roberts took the snap and tossed the ball to senior running back Steven Rodriguez.
On the run, Rodriguez hurled a pass to a wide open O’Rourke who broke down the sideline for his second touchdown.
O’Rourke had seven catches for for 118 yards, and his two touchdowns are the most for any Live Oak receiver this season.
Live Oak scored again late in the quarter when Roberts connected with a sliding Kyle Hennings from ten yards out for Live Oak’s fourth TD.
Despite giving up a touchdown per quarter, the Acorns’ high-powered offensive output in the second was enough to put them on top.
But the offense couldn’t have done it without the many momentum shifting plays from the defense.
Senior defensive lineman Anthony Villa-Franca had a third quarter fumble recovery to end a Lincoln surge.
Senior defensive back Mark Cummins broke up a third quarter touchdown pass with a perfectly timed jump.
Junior defensive back Nick Priedite intercepted a pass with 7:37 left in the game, setting up a scoring drive for the Acorns.
Roberts completed eight of 11 passes for 105 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception.
“It was just a great team effort,” Roberts said. “The offensive line helped me do what what I do.”
Roberts also had two rushing TDs.
Mott sealed the victory for the Acorns with a 22-yard field goal with only a minute left to play.
Filling in for Garrett Webb, who served a one-game suspension for an altercation he had during last week’s match against Pioneer, senior linebacker Jonathon Clegg had some big tackles in his first start.
“He stepped up and had a remarkable game for being his first time ever starting,” Porras said. “He was all over the place it was really encouraging to see him step up.”
The Acorns did not know find out they would play the Sobrato Bulldogs in the first round of the playoffs until Saturday, but the prospect of playing them excited Roberts after Friday’s win.
“Well step up 10 times better next week,” Roberts said. “I hope we play Sobrato, because it will be like a super bowl in Morgan Hill.”
Roberts got what he hoped for.
The Acorns take on the Bulldogs at 7:00 p.m on Friday at Richert Field.
To limit them to two TD’s in a half is really encouraging.
We should be 100 percent healthy and ready to go.
