Compared to the first three games of the season, the league
portion of the schedule will be a breeze.
Compared to the first three games of the season, the league portion of the schedule will be a breeze.
For the third week in a row, Live Oak will play a team that is ranked among the top 15 Central Coast Section football teams in the area.
“You want to be the best, you got to play the best,” said Live Oak coach Glen Webb. “All three of these teams are very fast. North Salinas with (Ronnie) Drummer and Palma with (Luke) Lippincott are also fast. Yet I would still characterize our league as being more of a strength and grind it out type of league as opposed to the finesse of these teams.”
This week’s opponent will be Seaside High – a team that is 2-0 after coming off of a 55-13 win over Roosevelt.
“They got a lot of team speed,” Webb said. “Our emphasis all week has been trying to contain that defensively and hold on to the ball on offense. If we can do some things to keep their offense on the bench, we have a chance. As long as they run as fast as they want sideways, we will be OK.”
Running back Daniel Salinas is still out with an ankle injury and will be for several more weeks, Webb said.
“With the exception of Salinas, we are getting healthier and will have most of guys back in pads,” Webb said.
Seaside has several players who are capable of turning the corner to come up with the big-yardage play that can break a game open. Live Oak got a taste of what speed can do against Oak Grove. But Seaside may have even more weapons.
Six different players recorded touchdowns for the Spartans last week. The four players who scored on passes were Laurence Walker, Curtis Harrison, Henry Utumapu and Augie Lewis.
Seaside, which until recently hasn’t been considered a powerhouse, is definitely a contender this year.
To make matters worse, Live Oak is coming into the game on a 16-game winless streak. The Acorns tied North County last year, but the last time the team recorded a win was on Oct. 13, 2001 at Monterey High.
It should be a defensive battle because both head coaches work heavily with the defenses.
Seaside is a team with a lot of experience with six seniors, who started as sophomores on the team.
“They’re really setting the tone for us,” said Seaside coach Alfred Avila. “Our defense has been really good. That’s what our team is built around. I thought we have the best defense in the county (Monterey) last year. We kind of struggled a little bit after losing a couple of our linemen last year. But we are pretty well balanced.”
Seaside has receivers who can catch the ball and make the big play as well as a couple running backs who are touted as two the best in the area. Junior Utumapu is one of those big and powerful backs the Acorns will have to watch out for. Utumapu, 6-0 220 pounds, also plays as a linebacker to make for double the trouble.
Keawe Block, who led the Monterey Bay League in rushing last year, is also returning. Walker, at receiver, is also capable of making the big play.
Seaside will be going with its backup quarterback Keith Garner after starter Gabe Cruz was injured. But Garner has shown he can put up good numbers also after starting his sophomore year and playing some last year as well.
But even though Seaside will be the favorite, Avila isn’t ready to celebrate yet.
“We don’t take any one lightly,” Avila said. “They worry me. They played Oak Grove tough in the first half. They are very capable of beating us. They have as good of chance as beating us as we do them. They take certain things away from you because they game plan so well.”
“We want to take away their running game and force them to pass more,” Avila added. “We try to wear teams down physically. They have trouble staying with us for four quarters.”
Seaside High is located on Noche Buena St. Take US-101 South to CA-156 West. 156 turns into CA-1 South. Take the Sand City exit toward Seaside and then merge onto Fremont Blvd. Left on Ord and then a left on Noche Buena.
