Live Oak’s Trevor Bearden is being honored by the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League for his performance in the Acorns’ Sept. 9 football season opener against Gilroy.
The 2011 Mount Hamilton Division Sophomore of the Year will receive the SaberCats’ Iron Man Award for that week and will be recognized during their 2012 debut against the Arizona Rattlers at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at HP Pavilion along with Leland senior quarterback Jason Habash and The King’s Academy junior safety Jatniel Espinoza.
The 6-foot, 185-pound Bearden, who starred at tailback and safety, accounted for 374 yards of offense – 211 rushing, 163 receiving – and five touchdowns, made six tackles, a fumble recovery, and returned four kickoffs for 82 yards in the 56-37 loss to Gilroy.
“It being his (second) varsity game, he showed he belonged,” Live Oak coach Mike Gemo said. “He really just took the game over. We almost rode him to a victory.”
Habash, who signed with Humboldt State, is receiving the Offensive Player Award for his effort against Independence on Oct. 28, when he completed 17 of 22 for 279 yards and seven touchdowns. Espinoza, the Defensive Player Award winner, totaled 28 tackles in a 38-14 loss to Burlingame on Nov. 4.
The three players will be honored on the field at halftime Saturday. Highlights from their games will be played on the arena’s video screen.
The SaberCats will recognize three area high school players during each of their home games this season.
“It’s a new program we’re doing to reach out to local youths and pay tribute to them,” SaberCats community and youth program manager Mike Carrozzo said.
Bearden rushed for 1,275 yards in 2011, good for fourth in the Central Coast Section, and also led the Acorns with 452 receiving yards, 435 return yards and 12 touchdowns. He had 28 tackles.
“Him being recognized shows our kids are working hard and positives can come out of a losing season,” said Gemo, whose Acorns went 1-9 in 2011. “It shows we’re going to keep working.”
