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SAN JOSE — Landon Stump connected with Keeton Dietz on a 3-yard touchdown pass in overtime and Live Oak’s celebration followed shortly after when Santa Teresa’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete.
The visiting Acorns pulled out a 14-7 victory Friday in a win characterized most by endurance and resilience.
Consider that they advanced to the Santa Teresa 1-yard line twice in the first half but didn’t score on either occasion, although late in the second quarter Stump hit Diego Castellanos with a 24-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 halftime lead.
Santa Teresa drew even with a 66-yard drive on its first possession of the second half and scored on Joseph Tapia’s 24-yard pass to Ian Quintero.
Live Oak took over with 4:56 left in the game and marched down the field, giving the ball to running back Jordan Fuentes on 10 consecutive plays. Timeout was called on the Santa Teresa 10 with 2.0 seconds left, but a 27-yard field goal attempt was wide left and the game went to overtime.
Shaking off the frustration and missed opportunities, Live Oak got the ball first in overtime. Stump passed to Fuentes for 3 yards, Fuentes ran for 6 to make it third down from the 1, where the Santa Teresa defense rose up and threw Fuentes for a 2-yard loss. But on fourth down Stump found Dietz in the end zone to break the deadlock.
The Saints then picked up 2 yards on a first-down run, but on the next three plays passes fell incomplete.
The win gave Live Oak (6-1, 2-0) a leg up in the battle for the Blossom Valley Athletic League Mt. Hamilton Division title.
“This shows we can beat anyone,” Live Oak coach Mike Gemo said.
It was a remarkable performance by Fuentes, who finished with 123 yards rushing on 28 carries.
“He’s a tough kid,” Gemo said. “He’s our guy.”
Afterward Fuentes insisted he was none the worse for wear.
“Right now I feel I could play an extra half,” the 5-foot-11, 158-pounder said.
Joshua Reyes was a bright spot for Santa Teresa (4-3, 1-1), rushing for 86 yards on 17 carries. But the Saints finished with a net 98 yards rushing on 30 carries and two quarterbacks combined to complete 7 of 20 passes for 101 yards.
“We’ve had a lot of injuries, we’re missing two linemen, and we’ve been struggling on offense all season,” Santa Teresa coach Steve Papin said.
The team’s defense is another story. Take away the 31 points allowed in a loss to Mitty and Santa Teresa, led by Reyes and middle linebacker Marc Carlson, has given up only 57 points in its other six games.
“They play really good defense,” Gemo said. “Both teams battled their butts off. If we had 10 games like that it would be a lot of fun.”
The BVAL Mt. Hamilton Division title could be decided Thursday when Live Oak hosts Lincoln (7-0, 2-0). Santa Teresa is back in action Friday with a home game against Christopher (6-1, 1-1).
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