Everybody contributed in the Don’s scrimmage on Saturday night, proving that this year’s team is both talented and deep across the board. Although the scrimmage rules don’t really give a great look at how the team will perform in actual game situations, it did give the boys a chance to get some fully padded competition against someone other than their own teammates. Returning juniors (now seniors) showed out well, and the new and returning sophomores (now juniors) also got to show how much they’ve improved over the Spring and Summer.
The jamboree welcomed Granda, Vallejo and Deer Valley to Acalanes, with each team taking 15 minute periods of offense and defense against each other. As usual the Dons offense was explosive, with big plays in both the pass and run game. Both junior Quarterbacks, Sulley Bailey and Jake Boselli, had long completions to multiple WRs, with Trevor Rogers, Paul Kuhner, Ethan Torres, and Mason Zirkel, garnering the most catches.
Senior Running Back Ellis Burger also had several punishing long runs behind the Dons powerful offensive line of LT Marcus Julian, LG Tyler Murphy, C Henry Hagel, RG Vic Nicolacakis, and RT Trevor Carrillo, and WR/RB Andrew Habas added a few nifty runs of his own behind them as well. Overall, a balanced offensive attack that portends the potential for another high flying high scoring Dons offense.
On the defensive side, the Dons showed speed and power, with Brady Morrow, Chase Caicedo and Zach Robb anchoring the middle, and Justin Zegarowski and Nathan Bennett manning the ends. Linebackers Tyler Worthington, Jack Giorgianni, George Churchill, Nathan Kim, and Ace Reeder flew all over the field, and stalwart safeties Kyle Bielawski and Coco Gannon teamed up with corners Ethan Torres and Gavin Bender to shut down the air attack.
Overall a very encouraging outing against some talented big schools that will hopefully provide some momentum going into a top flight tilt on Friday when the defending State Champ San Marin Mustangs come to town. It will be a huge early test for the Dons, and win or lose, will be a great way to build on all the work that they’ve put in over the Spring and the Summer. So make it a BLUE OUT on Friday and come ready to cheer on our Dons to an season opening win over a defending State Champ! Go Dons!