Turnovers: The killer of drives, the loser of games. The Live
Oak High football team simply turned the ball over too many times
last week. And as a result, the Acorns
’ seven-game winning streak came to an end Friday with a 33-14
loss to Palma.
Turnovers: The killer of drives, the loser of games.
The Live Oak High football team simply turned the ball over too many times last week. And as a result, the Acorns’ seven-game winning streak came to an end Friday with a 33-14 loss to Palma.
Despite the loss, head coach Glen Webb was still positive after the game. He said his players have now experienced losing and it is time to move on.
“The kids haven’t had to deal with adversity the entire year,” Webb said. “They are going to learn from this. No body who wins this league will be undefeated. This league will probably end in a two or three-way championship.
“The kids are working hard and that’s a credit to them. There is still a lot of season left.”
The Chieftains (2-1 in TCAL, 5-2-1 overall) only scored 14 points without the help of Live Oak (2-1 in TCAL, 7-1 overall). The rest of the Palma points came as a result of two interceptions and a fumble.
Things looked promising at the beginning with LIve Oak quarterback David Iseman taking the ball 81 yards for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage to draw first blood.
The LO defense also started off fast, forcing a Chieftains fumble and giving the ball back to the Acorns to seemingly putting the momentum square in their hands.
But that would be the end of the good times for Live Oak for the rest of the game.
The Acorns were forced to punt after going three and out. And, Palma returned the ensuing punt 85 yards for the touchdown.
The Chieftains never looked back.
With less than 2:30 left in the first quarter, the Chieftains had the ball on the Acorn one-yard-line and coughed up the ball. Unfortunately, Palma’s Chad Bozzo fell on the ball in the end zone.
The rest of the night went about the same for the Acorns.
The Live Oak defense did all it could, holding Palma to just 227 total yards – Live Oak gained 295 total yards. But the Chieftains continually had good field position thanks to turnovers.
In the second quarter, Iseman fumbled the ball, giving Palma the ball on the Acorn 10. Five snaps later, Palma scored again on a six-yard pass to Michael Willrodt.
When Live Oak got the ball back, Iseman threw his first of three interceptions on the night. The result: A four-minute, 61-yard scoring drive capped off by a 29-yard touchdown reception.
“Turnovers in the first half put us in a hole that we couldn’t get out of,” Webb said. “You can’t play 90-percent football and expect to win against these guys.”
In the second half, the bleeding stopped but the Acorns couldn’t mount any kind of scoring drive.
Iseman was intercepted twice, but only one resulted in a touchdown.
But the team did not give up.
“We never had any doubt in our minds that we could have a comeback,” Iseman said after the game. “Sometimes, that is just the way things go.”
In the fourth quarter, Live Oak mounted their one good drive of the night, going 69 yards in more than six minutes. With 42 seconds to play in the game, Iseman connected with Koblis for a 17-yard touchdown pass.
But it was all for pride.
Things won’t get any easier for Live Oak in the coming weeks. Up next is Hollister-San Benito, which is a perfect 3-0 in TCAL play (6-1-1 overall) after a dramatic win over Salinas Friday night.
Live Oak will have to contend with a strong quarterback in Karson Klauer, who is both a threat in the air as well as on the ground.
Running back Gabe Gaitan leads the Haybalers with 410 yards on the ground.
The Balers will also be celebrating their Homecoming this Friday night.
