The Live Oak Acorns football team ended a storied 2007-08 season
with a heart-wrenching 54-19 loss to the explosive Archbishop
Riordan Crusaders Saturday night in the Central Coast Section
Medium School Division Championship game at San Jose City
College.
The Live Oak Acorns football team ended a storied 2007-08 season with a heart-wrenching 54-19 loss to the explosive Archbishop Riordan Crusaders Saturday night in the Central Coast Section Medium School Division Championship game at San Jose City College.
Playing in its seventh ever CCS championship, and first in 18 years, Live Oak displayed sportsmanship, will, and gritty determination against a tough Riordan team led by a Pacific Athletic Conference (PAC 10) recruit.
Senior quarterback Darius Bell completed nine of 15 passes for 188 yards, and three touchdowns, while also running for a touchdown and catching a touchdown pass to lead to the Crusaders over the Acorns.
“We knew if we came out and played as well as we could we would be hard to beat,” Bell said. “This team has a lot heart and pride, and that’s what got us this far.”
Bell is being recruited by colleges across the nation, but is set on playing in the PAC 10.
“I’m looking at UCLA, because my cousin is a starting cornerback there, but I’m going to go wherever fits me the most,” Bell said. “And that will probably be somewhere in the PAC 10.”
The Crusaders dealt with a number of injuries during the regular season, but got all of their starting players back just before the start of the CCS playoffs.
“When we’re healthy we’re a tough team to beat,” Crusaders coach Mike Langridge said. “We got all of our guys back at the first game of the playoffs, and we felt that if we were healthy, we were the best team in this division.”
Langridge said his team knew of Live Oak’s injury situation, and that the Acorns would still play hard no matter whom they faced.
“I’ve seen them play a few times, so I knew they would play with heart,” Langridge said. “We knew their quarterback was out, so it was important for us to score early and not let them control the clock. And after we scored we just played them straight.”
The Crusaders first touchdown came during their first possession on a 20-yard pass from Bell to senior running back Osa Aigbuza who broke two tackles to reach the end zone. The Crusaders went 40 yards on four plays taking only 1:10 off the clock.
Their second TD came on their second possession when Bell scrambled six yards for the score. The Crusaders went 60 yards on four plays in 2:35 this time.
Riordan displayed their scoring efficiency just about every time they touched the football, but Live Oak turnovers put the ball into the Crusaders hands all too often.
Four of the Acorns six first-half fumbles were recovered by the Crusaders and converted into TDs.
The second lost fumble came as senior wide receiver Tim O’Rourke stretched for a touchdown after making a 17-yard catch.
O’Rourke’s knees appeared to be down at the two-yard line as he was tackled by a Crusader defensive back, but the ball came loose as he stretched out for the TD, and a Crusader defender picked it up and returned it to the 27-yard line.
Seven plays later Bell connected with senior wide-receiver Daniel Cannon with a 40-yard pass to push the Crusaders up 33-0.
The Crusaders scored again on a trick play when Bell caught a 27-yard TD pass from Cannon, and easily rolled to a 40-0 half-time lead, but the Acorns did not go down without a fight in the second half.
Junior running back Billy Van Aken scored a TD on a 13-yard run to finally put the Acorns on the board late in the third quarter.
The Crusaders scored their final TD on their first drive of the fourth quarter when senior wide receiver Jordan Wood caught a 25-yard TD pass.
Senior Steven Rodriguez returned the ensuing kickoff 34 yards to midfield giving Live Oak their best starting field position of the game.
After an encroachment penalty on Riordan, Rodriguez ran 15 yards on first-and-five setting up the Acorns with a first down on the 30-yard line.
On the next play Live Oak backup quarterback Matt Cummins, playing for Jeff Roberts who broke his ankle in the first round, hit a streaking Will Sparling with a 30-yard TD pass up the middle for the score.
Senior safety Kyle Hennings intercepted a pass on the Crusaders next possession, and the Acorns were sure to make use of it.
Junior running back Alex Muhn broke through the middle of the line for a 25-yard touchdown, but the Acorns failed to complete the two-point conversion.
While the Crusaders outplayed the Acorns on Saturday, first-year head coach Jon Michael Porras was proud of his team’s effort, and optimistic about the future of the program.
“I’m happy,” Porras said. “Riordan is a great team that could have competed in any division. They have a great quarterback, great wide receivers, and a bunch of speed. We had a great game plan, but our schemes can not cover when you get outrun.”
Porras was especially proud of the Acorns determination when they were behind.
“These guys showed that no matter what they’re not going to quit, and their work ethic is what got them here,” Porras said. “When you attack a wounded animal, sometimes that animal will bite back, and that’s what happened tonight.”
With more than 20 juniors on the team, Porras hopes the Acorns can return to form and make it to the CCS finals again next year.
“There are a lot of expectations now I guess, but I think we can do the same thing if not better next year,” Porras said.
