MORGAN HILL -- In an effort to save gas money and expand local football traditions, Sobrato and Live Oak have scheduled to play Gilroy's Christopher High School during nonleague play this fall.
As a reward for their solidarity, both Morgan Hill teams won't sacrifice any strength of schedule. Although a first-year varsity program, Christopher is a new member of the 'B'-level Monterey Bay Athletic League, which could be an 'A' conference in the near future.
"Who knows? Maybe we'll have our own South Valley league with them some day," Acorns fourth-year coach Jon Michael Porras said Wednesday. "We're all for keeping traditions and starting new ones."
Live Oak will play two 'B' teams in nonleague play this season -- Christopher, Sobrato -- after opening against rival Gilroy at home Sept. 4.
The Bulldogs' first game is Sept. 3 versus Christopher at Gilroy's Garcia-Elder Sports Complex. Sobrato will then play two 'A'-league clubs at Richert Field: Leland on Sept. 10 and Live Oak the following week in El Toro Bowl IV, which Sobrato will play as the away team.
"We wanted to play Gilroy this year, too, but it didn't work out," third-year Bulldogs coach Nick Borello said Tuesday. "We still have a good nonleague schedule. It'll be a great challenge for us."
Both coaches want their teams to be a full speed for the start of league Oct. 1. They have byes in Week 1.
"Preseason sets the tone. It certainly did for us last year," said Porras, whose team overcame an 0-4 start to reach the Central Coast Section playoffs and finish 4-7 in 2009. "We dug ourselves a big hole. If we had won one more of those nonleague games, we would have had a better seed in the playoffs and might have gone farther."
The Acorns are scheduled to host four of their first five games; the one away contest is Sept. 11 against Christopher. Live Oak will host its first two Mount Hamilton Division foes, Santa Teresa and Pioneer, then travel to play league newcomer Hill and Oak Grove. Live Oak will host its first two Mount Hamilton Division foes, Santa Teresa and Pioneer, then travel to play league newcomer Hill and Oak Grove.
The Acorns' final home game is Oct. 29 against Piedmont Hills followed by road contests at Leigh and Leland.
"The Mount Hamilton isn't going to be any easier," Porras said. "Oak Grove and Piedmont return a lot of guys, and Pioneer will have a new coach, but they'll still be just as good."
Fresh off a program-best 8-3 finish, the Bulldogs are back in the Santa Teresa Division. They will play their league opener at Independence, then host Lincoln, Gunderson and Branham before visiting Willow Glen. Sobrato will travel to Evergreen Valley on Nov. 5 and wrap up the regular season at home against Westmont.
"Unlike last year in the West Valley, there's not one game on our schedule this year that we can say, 'We've got that one for sure.' It's going to be a test every week," Borello said. "The competition is going to be tough from start to finish, but that's how you build your program."
LIVE OAK
Sept. 4 vs. Gilroy
Sept. 11 vs. Christopher at Gilroy High School
*Sept. 17 vs. Sobrato
**Oct. 1 vs. Santa Teresa
**Oct. 8 vs. Pioneer
**Oct. 15 at Hill
**Oct. 22 at Oak Grove
**Oct. 29 vs. Piedmont Hills
**Nov. 5 at Leigh
**Nov. 12 at Leland
SOBRATO
Sept. 3 vs. Christopher at Gilroy High School
Sept. 10 vs. Leland
*Sept. 17 vs. Live Oak
**Oct. 1 at Independence
**Oct. 9 vs. Lincoln
**Oct. 15 vs. Gunderson
**Oct. 22 vs. Branham
**Oct. 29 at Willow Glen
**Nov. 5 vs. Evergreen Valley
**Nov. 12 at Westmont
** denotes league contest
* denotes neutral site
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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