The Oxford Language dictionary defines “perfection” as follows:
the condition, state, or quality of being free, or as free as possible, from all flaws or defects

The Acalanes Dons finished their pre and in-league seasons with a single loss on their record at 9-1 and a chance for at least a 10-win season. That accomplishment would be the most wins by an Acalanes Football team since MaxPreps started recording win-loss records back in 2004 (the 2017 team finished 9-2, and the 2019 team finished 9-3).

It is truly a tribute to this coaching staff, the players, their families, and the Acalanes community of support, that have all been working so hard through the Spring, Summer, and Fall. But this is not a season tribute just yet, there is more work to be done. As a result of their stellar 9-1 finish, the Dons are the #2 seed in the NCS playoffs, garnering a home Quarterfinal game vs the Concord Minutemen this Friday, November 11 on our home field at 7p. More on that match-up in the coming days.

Before the Dons got to their #2 seeding in the D4 playoffs, they had to travel to Walnut Creek to face the Northgate Broncos, who moved back up to the Foothill Division of the DAL after winning the Valley Division last year. Northgate certainly didn’t care that the Dons came in with an 8-1 record and proceeded to work their way down the field on their first possession, hitting on a 42-yard bomb on 4th down to quickly move ahead, Dons 0, Broncos 7.

After the Dons went three and out on their first possession, the Acalanes defense was forced back on the field after a short rest, facing an inspired Northgate offense, starting on the Dons’ side of the 50. With the momentum on their side and a still sputtering Acalanes D, the Broncos once again hit on a big play, another long 25-yard pass this time down the right sideline, and it was Dons 0, Broncos 14, in a matter of minutes.

It certainly wasn’t pretty, and definitely not perfect, but you have to win these types of games when you’re striving for a special season. What’s the best remedy for a slow, sluggish start to a game? How about Formula 5, otherwise known as speedy WR Trevor Rogers. QB Sully Bailey calmly dropped back on 1st down and launched a long pass hauled in by Rogers in stride and 80-yards later the Dons were back in business, Dons 7, Northgate 14. After that quick score, the momentum swung back to Acalanes and the defense shut out the Broncos, forcing a punt after three downs. With the ball back in short order, the offense started moving again. A couple of completions, a first down run by RB Ellis Burger, and a long catch down the middle by WR Andrew Habas had the Dons well into Bronco territory. However, an unfortunate personal foul penalty not only negated a TD pass to Rogers but also put the Dons in a huge hole at third and 29 yards for a first down. After an incompletion on third, a long pass on fourth down was intercepted and the Dons were forced back on defense.

By this time the defense had found its footing and was not going to let Northgate up for air. On first down recently converted DT (from LB) Nathan Kim worked his way down the line and stuffed the Bronco RB for a short gain. After an incomplete pass, LB Nathan Bennett came up with a big sack to force a punt and the Dons had another chance to score before the half. A long completion to WR Ethan Torres, as well as well-executed run blocking by the O-line firm of Julian, Murphy, Smith, Nicolacakis, and Carrillo, got the Dons all the way down to the 1-yard line. However, another unfortunate penalty took six points off of the board by negating a QB sneak TD and pushed them back five yards. After failing to get into the end zone on the subsequent downs, the Dons turned it back over to the Broncos.

Even though there wasn’t much time left in the half, the defense was ready to apply the pressure. A quick three-and-out got the ball back to the offense and they went right to work. A long punt return by WR Paul Kuhner got the Dons started in Northgate territory. A couple of completions and a long run on a scramble by Bailey had the Dons in the red zone. After a spike to stop the clock, Bailey found WR Ethan Torres in the end zone, and just like that the Dons had it tied up at the half, Dons 14, Broncos 14.

Acalanes got the ball to start the second half and immediately went to work. A long gain on a middle screen to Kuhner moved the ball into Northgate territory and a couple of plays later QB Jake Boselli hit Ethan Torres on a quick curl and Ethan did the rest, cutting and weaving between the Bronco defenders until he reached pay dirt. The missed extra point made it Dons 20, and Broncos 14.

Northgate and Acalanes put together long drives on the next two possessions, but both came up empty on missed FGs. Another Northgate drive was stopped when SS Coco Gannon ripped the ball from the Broncos WR for a fumble recovered by the Dons, but the real turning point came a couple of minutes later when DB Everett Glass intercepted a Northgate pass giving the ball to the Acalanes offense on the 34-yard line.

After that turnover, the Acalanes offense started to impose its will. A short run by Burger, a 15-yard scramble by QB Jake Boselli, and a 10-yard run by Burger got Acalanes into the end zone. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful, but now the Dons were up by two scores, Dons 26, Broncos 14. The Dons D stepped up again and stopped Northgate on its 4th down attempt, giving the ball back to the offense in their own territory. The line was leaning on the tired Bronco defense and Ellis was pushing them with tough, hard runs. A penalty was followed up by a 14-yard run, a 6-yard run, and finally, a 4-yard run following Julian and Murphy into the end zone cleared by Smith, Carrillo, and Nicolacakis, and that was the final score of the game, Dons 33, Broncos 14.

So the Dons close it out with a win in their final game, but it wasn’t without a cost. Starting RG Senior Victor Nicolacakis was injured on the final extra point of the night and it’s possible that he may not be able to return this season. If the offensive line is the heart of the team, Victor is the heart of the offensive line. Always a positive influence, and always one of the hardest workers in practice, Victor is arguably the most improved player in this senior class, coming from someone who had never played football before freshman year, to a two-year varsity starter at Center and Right Guard. We’re hoping he comes back, but even if he doesn’t he will be a huge inspiration for his brothers in the trenches, in the backfield, and on the sideline, as they make their way through this magical season striving to be better than perfect, to be… NCS Champs.