Christopher twice went played on Richert Field and is now 2-0.
The Cougars shutdown Live Oak’s star running back en route to a 28-8 win.
“I would have said we had worked hard and done a good job,” said Christopher coach Tim Pierleoni about what he would have said if told before the season he’s be 2-0 after week 2. “I would not have said you were crazy. We have a good football team.”
A week after amassing more than 700 yards of offense, the were held to 111 total yards.
Trevor Bearden, who exploded for almost 500 yards against Gilroy, was held to 30 on 15 carries, including just six in the first half.
“It feels good. It’s what we had planned to do and it’s what we had to do to beat Live Oak,” said linebacker Jacob Moen.
Pierleoni said the game plan the entire week at practice was putting multiple people on Bearden to stop him.
He gave credit to his defensive coaching staff for putting a plan in place to corral Bearden and gave credit to the kids for executing.
Christopher allowed just two runs of 10 or more yards from Bearden, including a 17-yard scamper in the third quarter. Bearden also had a 10-yard run that help set up Live Oak’s only score.
The loss puts the Acorns at 1-1 in the young season.
Live Oak had two first downs in the first half, both coming on Christopher penalties.
“They were just better than us tonight,” said Live Oak coach Mike Gemo. “We will have to learn from this and get better as a team.”
Christopher was led offensively by Rashon Mills, who had 199 yards on 22 carries and four touchdowns.
Mills’ biggest touchdown came in the fourth quarter after Live Oak pulled to within 8 to end the third quarter.
He took the ball 63 yards on one play to swing the momentum back to the Cougars.
That made the game 22-8.
On Live Oak’s ensuing possession, Christopher forced a four-and-out setting up Mills for one more touchdown to go up 28-8.
After Christopher converted a fourth and five from the Live Oak 25, Mills took the ball 19 yards into the endzone for the game’s final score.
As Live Oak attempted to mount a come back, the Cougars put the game on ice when Bryant Huynh intercepted Ornduff for the second time in the game, allowing them to run out the clock.
Huyhn made his first pick midway through the third quarter as Live Oak was driving deep in Cougar territory.
“I remember getting four picks on JV last year, but two this year is where it’s at,” Huyhn said. “… I’m still in shock. We shut down Trevor and shut down Live Oak to get the W.”
Christopher drew first blood to close the opening quarter when Mills took the ball 2 yards for a 7-0 lead.
Raul Meza added a 24-yard boot, which put Christopher up 10-0 at half time.
Christopher caught a break at the start of the third quarter when it opted to avoid kicking to Bearden.
The short kick caught the Acorns off guard, allowing Christopher to recover the ball on the Live Oak 38.
That set up Mills three plays later, taking the ball 12 yards for a 16-0 lead after the point after was no good.
Christopher tried the same play on the ensuing kick off and got the ball back for a second time.
The Live Oak responded by forcing the Cougars to turn the ball over on downs setting up the Acorns’ only touchdown of the night.
Christopher will return to Gilroy next Friday to host Carmel in its home opener.
“We are going to have a tough game against Carmel, but we have all the confidence heading into next week,” Moen said.
Carmel will head into the contest 2-0 after a 57-35 win over North Salinas Friday.
