On Friday, Sobrato could share in something that the five CCS champions will experience on Dec. 6: The joy of winning the last game of the season.
The Bulldogs know they are not going to the playoffs and tonight will be the final time they take the field in 2013.
And Sobrato will do it against a perennial power that is going through a disappointing season as well.
Oak Grove still has a chance at the playoffs, despite its 4-5 record. The Eagles need a win Friday to clinch the final automatic bid from the Mt. Hamilton Division. A loss and an Independence win will eliminate them from playoff contention.
The Bulldogs, meanwhile, have nothing to lose.
“I don’t think my kids know anything but full tilt,” said coach Albert King.
King was pleased with the effort last week against Independence, but noted his boys just need to know how to finish drives.
There were opportunities in the red zone that fizzled, resulting in a 42-13 loss.
“The age-old thing for us this year is finish, finish, finish, finish, finish, finish,” King said. “If we ever figure out how to finish, there would be some different outcomes. That’s the whole nature of the game: We’ve got to finish what we started. But I’m extremely encouraged because we definitely gave them more than they anticipated.”
King said the goal as always is to grind out games and win in a low scoring contest.
Oak Grove has much the same mindset, as the highest margin of victory for the Eagles is 13 points. The rest have been by less than a touchdown.
Sobrato will have two things it will need to control in order to keep the game close: Oak Grove’s quarterback Ray Cruz and its running back Calvan Tipton.
Those two have been the biggest offensive producers, but there is a hoard of others who have made plays this season.
Oak Grove is normally a run til you stop it team, but this year, it was forced to be more balanced thanks to losing its top two backs from last season.
Still, King said the Eagles pose enough problems that Sobrato will need to be disciplined.
Friday will not just be the last game of the season, it will also be the final game for Sobrato’s six seniors.
One name in particular has been the backbone of the team, especially after losing JoJo Nunn for the season: Andrew Mesa.
King called Mesa his son and said he will miss coaching him, but will never lose touch.
“Andrew is a young man that me personally, I have huge personal attatchment to,” King said. “Andrew and I will have a relationship that will last until I die.”
King’s gratitude extends to the others, including Nunn and his son AJ King.
Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Live Oak.
