It has been said that there are three parts to a high school football season. The five games before league games start, the five league games, and, hopefully, the playoffs. Many schools choose to schedule easy games during the pre-league schedule, especially in leagues that are very competitive, like the DAL Foothill. However, this was not the case with our 2022 Acalanes Dons. After starting off the season beating the defending State Champion San Marin Mustangs (still their only loss at 4-1), the Dons went to traditional power Bishop O’Dowd, traveled all the way to Sacramento to play D2 heavyweight, Sheldon, came back to face the Redwood Giants, and finally finished off with homecoming vs the Oakland Wildcats. Through all of that the Dons remained unbeaten at 5-0!
The homecoming game itself was decided fairly quickly, with everyone on the team able to log significant minutes and the Dons escaping without any injuries. A few items of note include a QB (Sully Bailey) to QB (Jake Boselli) pass/lateral pass to RB Ellis Burger for a TD, an Andrew Habas punt return for a TD, 33 and 44-yard FGs by Kicker Zach Murdin, a fumble recovered for a TD by CB Ethan Pancoast, and SS Ben Foox returning from injury and nabbing a one-handed pick-six while still wearing a protective cast on his right hand.
Now that the Dons have completed their undefeated pre-season, the hard work starts with the ultra-competitive DAL Foothill League, and the Las Lomas Knights coming to Lafayette next Friday. But before we move on to league games, let’s take a look at how the Dons’ stats compare with High School National Averages according to MaxPreps.
Nearly twice the amount of completions and yards, even though yards per completion is on average. As is often the case, the Acalanes offense is explosive with receivers Trevor Rogers, Ethan Torres, Andrew Habas, and Paul Kuhner, who excel at yards after the catch. Let’s take a look at the run game.
As a team that passes more often than it runs, the Dons’ run stats are impressive thanks to their dominant O-line, Julian, Murphy, Smith/Hagel, Nicolacakis, and Carrillo, as well as their powerhouse RB Ellis Burger. With only 2/3 of the average carries per game, the Dons have the same number of 100-yard games through five contests, and two more TDs on the ground.
While it has been often the case that Acalanes can score, especially through the air, this year the defense has looked effective against some very potent offenses. Let’s see what that stats tell us.
The most impressive stat here is the Tackle Assists. An Assisted Tackle is a measurement of more than one player helping take down the opposing runner. The number of assists is a way to see how the defense is swarming to the ball carrier and the Dons have 50% more than the national average. Going down the line there are more impressive defensive stats, 20% more total tackles, 30% more tackles for loss, and 46% more sacks! An aggressive, fast, defense and some key changes in positions have resulted in some impressive numbers in the first segment of the three-part season. Now defenders like DTs Brady Morrow, Chase Caicedo, and Marcus Julian, DEs Justin Zegarowski and Nathan Bennett, LBs George Churchill, Jack Giorgianni, Nathan Kim, and Ace Reeder, and DBs Kyle Bielawski, Coco Gannon, Gavin Bender, Ethan Torres, and Trevor Rogers, have to bring that speed, power, and energy into league competition.
The players and coaches have done their part, completing an undefeated pre-league slate. Now it’s up to all of us supporters to bring maximum energy and make sure that everyone in attendance will “FEEL THE BLUE” in our first league game at home this Friday in our house! Go Dons!