Sunday, Oct. 04, 2009

Estrada: After 20 years, Livingston thinking playoffs

It's been some time since the folks in Livingston had a reason to get excited over their football team, but the Wolves' hot start has their fans using the "P" word — as in playoffs. Livingston's last playoff game was 1990, when it beat Escalon 28-21 for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 3 championship.

Now, 19 years later, the Wolves have a good start on the road back to the playoffs. The conventional wisdom is that six wins will be enough to get a team a playoff berth, and Livingston (3-1) is halfway there. It hosts winless Delhi Friday, and will be favored in Western Athletic Conference games against Gustine (1-3) and Orestimba (3-1).

That would produce a 6-4 mark and the required two conference wins. It would put Livingston on the cusp of a playoff berth, though a lack of wins over quality foes is a tie-breaker that could come back to hurt the Wolves.

The Wolves aren't looking that far ahead, though, they've been having too much fun these past few weeks.

It was Charles Brown's turn Friday night, as the junior fullback ran for a career-high 205 yards and scored three TDs in a 31-7 win over Mariposa. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder also had five tackles, while the defense allowed only one play of consequence — a 69-yard TD catch by Frankie Pena.

"(Brown) makes a statement with hard-hitting blocks and intense tackles," said coach Chris Lacey. His Wolves lost their opener, 14-10 to Bret Harte, but outscored their last three foes 94-29.

The defense had plenty of impact players, including Noe Ortega (six tackles), and Hector Romo and Albert Millan (five tackles apiece).

MMC ON THE MEND — The Modesto Metro Conference struggled in Week 4, losing all six games, one of its top passers and it's only plus.-500 team. The teams were outscored 276-96, for an average score of 46-16, with the closest loss coming by 15 points.

The bad news began Thursday, as Beyer quarterback Justin Usiak — averaging 303 yards and three TDs a game — left the 33-11 loss to Edison in the third quarter with what Beyer athletic director Paul Cornwell said was a "stinger." The Patriots hope to have a better fix on a date for Usiak's possible return this week, but he will likely miss Friday's game against Tracy.

Davis started as the MMC favorite, and it was a deserved title after the Spartans routed their first two foes 86-21. Fast forward to Week 4, however, and it's a different story. The Spartans have been upset two weeks in a row and the early wins have lost their luster — both their victims are winless.

What to make of the MMC today? The conference race could be the best in years, with no dominant team and Downey's aerial circus led by Jason Lee (1,531 yards and 17 TDs through four games). While the Knights have yet to stop anyone, giving up 77 and 73 points in the last two games, no one has stopped them.

FOOTHILL FRUSTRATION — The Mother Lode League can't buy a break against its flatland peers. After losing two heartbreaking playoff games a year ago — Escalon's Hail Mary beat Calaveras and Patterson beat Argonaut in overtime — the MLL lost Friday's key showdowns:

Argonaut's first-team defense had allowed four first downs and no points through three games, but Isaiah Burse and Modesto Christian came to town and left with a 48-35 win. Burse fired five TD passes and, once again, a foothill team was unable to match up at skill positions.

Calaveras' offense could manage only one TD in a 21-14 loss to Hilmar. Chris Ussery returned the opening kickoff for a TD for the Redskins, but Hilmar won it in the fourth when Carlos Diaz scored his second TD.