Top-seeded Tigers overcome 24-7 deficit in fourth quarter
PACIFICA — In the end, Live Oak’s inspiring football 2009 season left many wondering how much farther the Acorns could have gone.
Live Oak pushed the top-seeded Terra Nova Tigers to the brink of upset Friday only to watch the first-round playoff game spiral into one of the Acorns’ most heart-breaking losses in recent history. Terra Nova scored three consecutive touchdowns in the final six minutes to shock No. 8 Live Oak, 28-24, in Pacifica and advance to the Central Coast Section Division III semifinals.
The Bay Division champion Tigers (8-3 overall) scored two of their fourth-quarter touchdowns off Acorns turnovers.
“We made big plays … but our old habits came back and beat us in the end,” Live Oak coach Jon Michael Porras said. “It’s a disappointing way to end a season of what-ifs and what-could-have-beens. But the bottom line is, the kids were a very good team.”
The Acorns entered Tigers Stadium with plenty of confidence after finishing 4-3 in Mount Hamilton Division play. They started the year 0-4 and were 1-4 at midseason but rallied around their gritty defense and improved play of senior quarterback Dylan Frechette.
“I’m really proud of them. They’re a really good group,” Porras said. “Ever since we started league, we’ve been like a different team.”
Porras went as far to say his Acorns ranked “up there” with his 2007 team that reached the Medium School section championship game.
“They could have done the same thing,” the third-year coach said. “We were a couple minutes from making that come to fruition.”
Pounding the ball up the middle in the first half, Live Oak jumped out to a 14-7 lead with short touchdown runs by Frechette and junior running back Blair Zerr. Senior wideout Dominic Leach added an 8-yard touchdown reception off a double-pass from Z-back Artie Valencia in the third quarter. Live Oak’s defense recovered a fumble on third-and-goal, and the Acorns went ahead 24-7 with Jacob Montoya’s 30-yard field goal.
Live Oak even caught a break after Leach’s punt was blocked early in the fourth quarter. Leach ran down the return man and forced a fumble that Nick Gustafson recovered in the end zone, giving the Acorns possession at their own 20.
They fumbled the ball away on the next play.
“That was huge,” Porras said.
The Tigers began moving the ball effectively. Carl Cox threw the first of two long touchdown passes to Jake Barradas, then, on the next drive, made a big throw to convert a second-and-16 before finding Barradas again.
The Acorns’ offense began its final series with 1:44 remaining but stalled.
“We had to come from behind late; that’s not our game,” Porras said. “The guys did everything we asked of them. They gave it their best effort. That’s what football’s all about.”
