After dropping three close ones, Condors up tonight
With three minutes left, the Live Oak football team had a 21-20
lead, the ball and was driving for another score against Seaside
High that would have put the game out of reach.
After dropping three close ones, Condors up tonight
With three minutes left, the Live Oak football team had a 21-20 lead, the ball and was driving for another score against Seaside High that would have put the game out of reach.
But when Acorn quarterback Orin Catrett put up a pass that was intercepted at the five-yard line, Live Oak’s hopes of winning its first game of the season were shattered in the blink of an eye-Seaside marched the length of the field for the 26-21 victory.
“At this point, we just need to stay upbeat,” said Webb after the game. “We are 0-3 but those games could have gone either way. We just need to stay healthy and keep working at it.”
Tonight, the Acorns will play North Monterey County at home. Kick off is 7:30 p.m.
Next week, the Acorns will butt helmets with Alisal before the grinding Tri-County Athletic League schedule begins on Oct. 18 at Hollister.
While these non-league games are important, the Acorns could theoretically lose them all and still make the playoffs at 5-5 overall if they win the last five games against league rivals.
“If you did that, you would still be considered a top team in the playoffs. But I don’t think that would ever happen-not going 0-5 in non-league games,” said Webb. “We need to turn this thing around and not lose our confidence.”
Then he added.
“So far, we’ve played Milpitas, Oak Grove and Seaside. All of those teams are favored to win their league. The fact that we were able to play with them doesn’t mean a lot unless you win, but we were. And I think we’re better than our record and on the verge of winning.”
Against the Condors tonight, the Acorns will look to get that confidence back. As an old foe in the Monterey Bay League for many years, Webb and his coaching staff are familiar with North County.
“We’ve had a chance to watch them a couple of times,” said Webb. “They run a very disciplined offense and they do the things that they need to do well.”
Against the Spartans of Seaside, Live Oak was the first to put points on the board. The Acorns led 7-0 when Catrett hooked up with Acorn receiver Brian Adames on a 43-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter.
But the lead lasted all of about a half-minute when the Spartans ran back Live Oak’s kickoff, deadlocking the score at 7-7.
In the second quarter, the Acorns tacked on 14 more points to make the score 21-7 before Seaside scored just before the half, which made the score 21-14.
The Acorns’ two scores in the second quarter came courtesy of short runs.
Mike Wolfe punched it into the end zone from one-yard out early in the second quarter and Daniel Salinas scored on a two-yard run on the Acorns’ next drive.
Both scores were made possible thanks to strong blocking up front by Acorn fullback Keith Cooke.
With the score 21-7, it looked as though the Acorns were ramping up for a blowout win. But unfortunately for Live Oak, it would be that last time they would find the end zone all night.
In the second half the Acorns got cold both on offense and defense, while Seaside proceeded to score 12 unanswered points in the second half to ice the victory.
“They just kept hitting us with the big play,” Webb said. “And that’s what hurt us.”
In addition to the touchdown return off a kickoff, Seaside also had a 50-yard touchdown reception; a 20-yard touchdown run and a 70-yard pass play on the game-winning drive.
“We just can’t afford to give up the big play or the turnovers,” said Webb.
Catrett’s pass that was picked off in the closing minutes was intended for Steven Conner, who was running a slant route. It bounced off of him and into the hands of Seaside’s cornerback.
