3-0 record in the West Valley division of the BVAL makes Sobrato
top dog Saratoga – Trailing 7-0 Saturday, the Sobrato Bulldogs
chased the Prospect High School Panthers into halftime and returned
to the field with a rabid look in their eyes.
Saratoga – Trailing 7-0 Saturday, the Sobrato Bulldogs chased the Prospect High School Panthers into halftime and returned to the field with a rabid look in their eyes.
At the 7:49 mark of the first quarter Prospect took an early lead with running back Fiaavae Fiaavae’s 4-yard touchdown run.
Despite numerous penalties on Prospect and a solid defensive effort, the Bulldogs struggled to gather any offensive momentum, and did not take the ball past the Panthers’ 36-yard line for the entire first half.
Sobrato junior defensive back Anthony Zizzo and senior line backer Shane Kendall both sacked Prospect QB Nate Taye on separate plays leading to punts.
With less than five minutes in the second quarter Zizzo blitzed and sacked Brown for a 12-yard loss.
On the last play of the half Kendall broke through the Panthers’ line for another sack and huge loss, leading the Bulldogs into halftime with all the momentum.
The Panthers received the ball at the start of the second half and burned more than four minutes off the clock before punting it away.
Zizzo took the Panthers’ short punt from the Sobrato 25-yard line and returned it to the Panthers’ 45, regaining the momentum and giving his team good field position.
After an incomplete pass on first and ten, Sobrato quarterback Erick Levell hit senior wide receiver Alejandro Blanc with a sharp pass on second down for a 35-yard gain.
With a first and goal on the ten-yard line Sobrato resorted to their running game.
Fullback Steven Guiterrez gained two yards on first down, and Zizzo finished the job with an eight-yard run on second down for the Bulldog’s first touchdown.
Sophomore kicker Adam Guerra evened the score at 7-7 with the successful point after attempt.
On the first play of Prospect’s ensuing possession, Fiaavae fumbled the ball on a run up the middle and Sobrato recovered at the Panthers’ 43-yard line.
The Bulldogs managed to get down to the 15-yard line on eight plays, but we’re forced to attempt a field goal on fourth down.
Guerra’s kick, from 22 yards out, sailed far left of the goal post and the Panthers regained the ball on their 20-yard line.
Sobrato held Prospect, forcing a turnover on downs, and took over at their own 44-yard line.
Using almost all of their running threats, including carries by Zizzo, Jo Jo Anaya and Guiterrez, Sobrato marched 42 yards into the red-zone.
With second and eight from the 12-yard line Levell connected with junior wide receiver Alex Meldrum for a ten-yard gain.
On the next play, Levell took the snap around the left end on the option for the winning touchdown.
With 8:32 left in the game Prospect went on the offensive hungry to score.
On a 12-play drive that was riddled with penalties, the Panthers burned more than six minutes off the clock as they marched towards the end zone.
The Sobrato defense held strong, led by senior linebacker Victor Gillespie who made a big stop on fourth and goal.
With three receivers lined up on the left side of the ball, Taye took the ball around the right end on a QB keeper but was stopped by Gilllespie on the two yard line, resulting in a turnover on downs.
The Panthers sacked Levell in the endzone for a safety on Sobrato’s final possession, cutting the lead to 14-9.
With five seconds left in the game, Guerra kicked a short squib which Prospect quickly downed.
Taking the ball on their own 46-yard line, the Panthers had one last chance to score, but only 1.1 seconds to do it.
On final snap, Taye looked for receivers, but was sacked by Sobrato’s senior defensive tackle Michael Welch.
“This was a pivotal game for our staff, our program, our school and the whole Sobrato community” Brown said.
At 3-3 overall and 3-0 in West Valley division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League, Sobrato is no longer an underdog, but a first place favorite.
Levell, a judo black-belt, has been the perfect on-field leader for the Bulldogs and is playing on pace to be a Division I QB, coach Dan Brown said.
“He’s a phenomenal kid and he never loses composure,” Brown said.
Levell was throwing up blood the night before the game, Brown said, yet still managed 6 of 12 passing for 84 yards.
Guiterrez said he didn’t think Sobrato played their best football, but they did want the win more than their opponents.
“The line really picked up the tempo in the second half, and once we got the momentum we never looked back.”
