The Acalanes Freshman football team hit the road this week to visit the home field of the Redwood Giants in Larkspur. This was Redwood Freshman Football’s first home game in 5 years, so clearly, they were motivated to impress the abundance of fans in their stands. However, our Dons had spoiler plans on their minds. This freshman team is proving itself to be an intense, more motivated powerhouse as each week passes. They are coming together as a unit. The tools being implemented on both sides of the ball are expanding to a point where we don’t know who is going to shine on any given play.
It was Coach Bear Bryant who famously said, “It’s defense that wins championships.” Well, it might not have been a championship game, but our defense was there to prove they’re ready to win. Reviewing my notes from the game, the phrase “tackle in backfield” was written a dozen times and “no gain” was written 6 times. Checking my simple-minded math, that is at least 18 defensive plays of zero to negative yardage by the opponent’s offense. Even Ray Lewis would sit up and take note of this performance by our Don’s defense. If it wasn’t Carson Wellington (#11) with his partner in crime Chris Copland (#87) wreaking havoc for the Redwood QB from the left side rush, then their running backs were being stuffed and pushed back up the middle by the likes of Nery Lopez (#72), Deonte “Big” Littlejohn (#15), or Amin “Meat” Noroozi (#17).
The first quarter started early and ended quickly with a strong defensive standoff. Two solid kick returns from Illias “KJ” Kaplanes-Jones (#22) represented most of the Don’s first quarter offense. That is to say if we completely ignore a rumbling, catch me if you can, 75 yd punt return from Deonte “Big” Littlejohn that was called all the way back for a ghostly block in the back. End of Q1: ACA 0 / RDWD 0
In the second quarter, both offenses found their footing. The Acalanes defense gave up a rare big pass play as a Redwood receiver snuck into the secondary for a 46-yard TD reception. With the tacked on extra point and 6:37 remaining in the first half, first blood was drawn. Branson Smith (#8) accepted the challenge and made quick work of his response. Smith hit three different receivers before capping the drive off with a 22-yard TD pass to Carson Wellington (#11). Pay dirt. A missed two-point conversion ensued, but Acalane’s formidable offense had struck back in just 2 minutes and 35 seconds. The defense took over and stifled Redwood into halftime. End of 1st half: ACA 6 / RDWD 7
Post halftime, the Blue D stormed out with a vengeance. Wellington tackle in the backfield, muffed snap by Redwood, Littlejohn pins their running back for a loss. It’s 4th down and forever. Again, Carson Wellington times the snap perfectly and chases down a fleeting running back for yet another big loss…but alas the little yellow flag hits the field. Horse collar and first down Giants. Undeterred, the defense stiffens with the help of Tommy Tehrar (#13) taking down their RB for a 9-yard loss. After a short offensive series by Acalanes, Redwood takes over and takes advantage of the premium field position by tossing a 26-yard TD and extra point conversion to take an 8 point lead. End of Q3: ACA 6 / RDWD 14
On the subsequent possession. Acalanes again struggles to put a drive together and turns the ball over on downs deep in their own territory. Redwood could all but seal the victory with a short drive against a tired Acalanes defense. But the Boys in Blue step up yet again with a crippling stop on the 2 ½ yard-line by KJ, followed by a brutalizing, 4-down goal-line stand that ended with beastly stop up the gut stop by Nery Lopez (#72) on the goal-line, helped with a side of MEAT of course.
The stage was set, the momentum had shifted, Acalanes was poised. From Jane Smith’s mouth to god’s ears, all we needed was a “Grant me a wish” miracle…and man did the crowd get what they came for Thursday evening. With 2:07 left on the clock and no timeouts left for the Dons, Redwood made a strange decision on third down with an incomplete pass play, saving precious time. After stopping them on fourth down, Branson Smith hit Grant “Me a Wish” Ricker in the flat across the right hash mark. Like being shot out of a cannon, Ricker was in an 86-yard foot race only to be brought down at the Redwood 2-yard line. Smith finished the job with a 2-yard rushing TD! Amazing resilience by the Frosh team, beaming parents, friends and fans going nuts on the visitor side. But at ACA 12 and Redwood 14, there was still the 2pt conversion to address. Our standard slant pass was properly congested by the Redwood defense and the pass fell to the ground incomplete. Ever the optimists our Dons line up for the obvious on side kick that was coming. Santiago “Santi” Vignoles (#24) pooches the perfect dribbler that gets away from the Redwood Giant only to be pounced on by Cody Michlitsch (#29). ACA BALL! Confidence rekindled, the frenzied offense rushes to the field for another two-minute drill. Positive yards were equally matched with penalty flags as the Dons struggled to find flow. We turn the ball over on downs with little time left. One last gasp of hope arose as another curious decision to pass by Redwood resulted in a diving Grant Ricker pick off deep in Acalanes territory. With limited time and a couple more tough penalties by the officiating crew, our frosh boy’s efforts were cut short. FINAL: ACA 12 / RDWD 14.
Our boys showed a resilience and confidence that will carry them through any close games in the season’s future. Their never quit attitude reminds us why we “Feel” the Blue.
Powered by Frosh Parent: Jeff Sanguinet