Sobrato improved to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in division play.
SAN JOSE -- Standing next to each other in front of a boisterous visiting crowd of no more than 40 people, Sobrato quarterback Steven Sorce and center Joel Rueda wore Friday's triumph over Independence on their sleeves.
His forehead dry, his pearly white uniform ready for picture day, Sorce led the cheers alongside Rueda, who was covered in mud from head to shoelace.
Minutes earlier, they had helped the Bulldogs forge a 31-21 victory at Independence High School, Sobrato's first in Blossom Valley Athletic League-Santa Teresa Division play.
In the process, the Bulldogs got their hands dirty -- with the exception of Sorce.
"Our offensive and defensive lines won this game," Sorce said. "To get this win here on the road, it's huge for us. It says so much about this team and what we're made of."
Point taken.
Against a hard-luck 76ers squad with an identical record -- plus one of Sobrato's former coaches, Norm Brown, at the helm -- the Bulldogs met every challenge imaginable, scoring 24 consecutive points to overcome a 21-7 deficit.
Sobrato (2-3 overall, 1-1 BVAL) trailed 21-10 at halftime but pulled ahead with two touchdown passes from Sorce to Tim Cavanaugh and a 17-yard touchdown run by Ralph Jackson. The Bulldogs' defense, meanwhile, worked a shutout in the second half while holding Independence (1-4, 0-2) to four first downs. Two of those came during the 76ers' final drive.
"They knew the game was never out of hand," Sobrato coach Nick Borello said. "They just had to keep doing what was working for them and execute. They kept fighting."
The absence of Independence's star tailback Derek Muaava helped. Muaava, who suffered an ankle injury in the opening quarter, threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Javi Villanueva for the first score of the game. Villanueva later reeled off a 28-yard touchdown run, helping the 76ers build a 14-7 lead.
"It's pretty what obvious what was missing for us in the second half," Brown said. "Derek was out of the game, and the door was wide open for Sobrato to come back and they did."
With his front five of Rueda, Ali Aryanpour, Mandeep Bains, Glenn Patterson and Raymond Guerrero standing tall, Sorce turned in another impressive night. The senior was sacked once while completing 14 of 16 passes for 167 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Cavanaugh rushed for a game-high 144 yards on 21 carries, including a 2-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
"Our offensive line was just playing great tonight," Cavanaugh said. "We rallied behind them."
Cavanaugh set up his first touchdown with a 65-yard run up the middle. His short score tied the game at 7-all.
"We needed big plays like that," said Rueda, who also starts at nose guard. "The lines were about equal, but we got stronger as the game went on. The big runs helped us realize how good we are up front."
The Bulldogs cut into the 11-point deficit on their first drive of the second half. They capped the eight-place series with Jackson's run, an off-tackle blast that left Jackson almost untouched on his way to the goal line.
Sobrato got lucky during the ensuing extra-point try. Playing as holder, Sorce fielded a bouncing snap, rolled to his right, then lobbed the ball to Patrick Bacciarelli for a two-point conversion, making it 21-18.
After Independence was held to three and out, the hungry Bulldogs struck again. Sobrato drove 63 yards in eight plays and went ahead 24-21 on Sorce's first touchdown pass to Cavanaugh, a 17-yarder with 2:17 left in the third quarter.
"I felt great back there," Sorce said. "I had all day to throw."
The 76ers were in position to retake the lead until Alex Meldrum pulled a fumble out of a pileup at the Sobrato 22-yard line. The Bulldogs pushed ahead six plays later when Sorce found Cavanaugh for their second score, a 65-yard connection with 7:14 remaining.
Cavanaugh hauled in the pass at midfield, shook a defender and was off toward the end zone.
"We moved the ball well against their defense," Borello said. "Our guys took care of their assignments in the second half and we got a win we desperately needed.
"If we keep playing like this, we're going to have a lot more of them."
Sobrato, which fell 16-6 to undefeated Santa Teresa last week, has five division games left. The Bulldogs play their third straight road game next Saturday at Prospect.
"We're starting to play like we know we can," Rueda said. "We have a lot more confidence."
Independence was in control early in the game but lost rhythm after Muaava's injury. Quarterback David De Martino put the 76ers ahead 21-7 when he scored on a bootleg run from 37 yards out.
Sobrato answered with a 22-yard field goal by Mario Contreras in the final minute of the first half.
Scott J. Adams Scott J. Adams covers Morgan Hill sports for South Valley Newspapers. Send him an email or call him at 779-4106.
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