Senior Night had all the thrills and spills one could ask for, making it unforgettable!
The Dons were ready to celebrate 11 spirited seniors under the Friday night lights, and things kicked off at 4:30 with the fervor of a rock concert – well, maybe not quite that wild, but the home crowd was certainly hyped. It was a joy to witness this inaugural team say their goodbyes to the 11 seniors and their ever-supportive families. You could almost hear the emotional background music playing.
The 11 Seniors are Addie Martin, Alana Brinkman, Dakota Goyert, Ella Thomason, Jenna Steele, Kelly Todhunter, Kira Chan, Lana Cerejo, Maya Bleich, Monica Dikova, and Zoya Acuna.
At 5, it was time for the main event, as the Dons and Cougars took to the field in what was dubbed “The Rematch of the Century” after Acalanes had tamed the Cougars a few weeks ago. All the seniors were honorary captains and went out for the coin toss. Campo started with the ball, and Thomason of the Dons seemed to channel her inner superhero, stopping them flat on several downs. It’s almost as if she whispered, “Thou shall not pass!” Campo, however, decided to be the prankster at the party and got a “pick 6” touchdown in the 1st drive of the Dons. Oh boy, what a way to throw a curveball into the evening!
But then, the Dons decided it was time to get their act together. The offense, presumably after a stern pep talk, started moving the ball downfield. Todhunter, Thomason, Martin, and Steele, all contributed to what felt like a meticulously choreographed touchdown drive, eventually Thomason got in the end zone tying the score at 6-6. It was a heartwarming display of teamwork, or as they call it in sports, “a team-building exercise.”
The Dons’ defense, led by the indomitable Brinkman, Steele, and Maya Shoenhair, decided to put up the “No Entry” sign for the Cougars’ offense. Addie McShane then intercepted the ball to give it right back to the Dons. Halftime, and the score was deadlocked at 6-6. The crowd was as excited as a dog with two tails.
In the second half, the Dons turned into the dominant force, and the defense, led by the relentless Dakota Goyert (sacking anything that moved), looked more like a brick wall.
Shoenhair, perhaps inspired by her pre-game pep talk, scored two second half touchdowns for the Dons, one on a pass from QB Martin and one from Acuna. The leading rusher for the game was Dons RB, Todhunter, who was slicing and dicing the Cougars all night long while Dikova made several nice catches. The game ended on yet another interception by Acalanes when Brinkman snatched the ball away from Campo. Final score? 20-6, and it was time for some victory dancing!
But that was just the opening act. The main event, the showdown against the undefeated Northgate Broncos, was about to begin. The Dons looked ready, like they’d just downed a double shot of espresso. However, Acalanes seemed to be in a generous mood, starting the game with a punt. The Broncos seized the moment and unleashed a 55-yard touchdown run, which made the score 7-0. It felt like a scene from a heist movie, with the Broncos sprinting away with the loot.
The offense, though, was in no mood to give up. They even managed to score a touchdown and bring the game back to 7-6. But there was a plot twist – they were flagged for illegal motion, and the touchdown was snatched away from them. It was like a magician performing a disappearing act, except without the magic. Though the defense decided if the offense couldn’t get it done they would. Jenna Steele picked off the Broncos and ran it all the way back for a TD. They missed the crucial extra point making it 7-6 at half time.
The game hung in the balance, with the stands filled with people holding their breath, as if watching a suspense thriller. In the second half, the defense continued to impress, with Kira Chan playing her best game of the season making tackles all over the field along with constant pressure from Goyert and Todhunter while Brinkman added another interception that halted Northgate on one of their last drives.
With a few minutes left on the clock, Acalanes got the ball back and Thomason caught a pass, racing down the field like she had a date with the end zone. Acuna threw one to Todhunter, and it looked like Acalanes was brewing up a perfect storm. Then they threw a few incomplete passes in the corner, and the excitement was so high that a few parents fell out of their seats, cheering as if their life depended on it.
Steele caught the last pass of the night, but alas, she came up just short of the goal line. Northgate held on for a nail-biting 7-6 victory, making it one of those endings that would leave you on the edge of your seat. It was a game that would be talked about for ages, a rollercoaster ride of emotions, where the Dons played hard, and it felt like they were in control for most of the second half. What a game, what a night!