The Acalanes Dons made a loud and clear statement Friday night: “Fear the Blue” is back in full force. In a commanding performance, they crushed the Menlo-Atherton Bears 42-3, proving why they’re ranked No. 75 in California and an impressive No. 8 in the MaxPreps San Francisco Metro Football (2025) Rankings. From the opening whistle, the Dons were in complete control. On the very first play, Acalanes came out ready to rumble. Finn Rivera sacked the quarterback and knocked the ball loose. Tommy Terhar scooped it up, and the Dons never looked back. Running back Josh Elerts wasted no time setting the tone, darting into the end zone early in the first quarter with a burst that left defenders in the dust. Just minutes later, the Dons punched in another touchdown, and by the end of the opening quarter, it was already clear: this is our house!
In the second and third quarters, the Dons added two more touchdowns, continuing to roll on the ground and through the air. Quarterback Tyler Winkles played with confidence, managing the game efficiently and keeping the offense clicking. His top target, Rivera, delivered yet again with two touchdown catches and multiple clutch grabs that kept drives alive and the Bears’ defense scrambling.
On the defensive side of the ball, Acalanes has been nothing short of relentless over the past two games—and Friday night was no different. Bryce Birdsong (that’s right, Bird…like a falcon) was flying all over the field. He teamed up with junior Danny Dunne and senior Deonte Littlejohn to bring constant pressure, forcing the Bears into mistakes, misfires, and what looked like early hibernation. Mad Dog Defense? Nah…this is Mad DON Defense!!!
Littlejohn led the sack count with 2, while both Dunne and Birdsong notched 1.5 sacks each, and Rivera added another to the total. Tackles for loss (TFL) were also a major storyline. Littlejohn racked up 4 TFLs, Birdsong added 3, and both Dunne and Terhar contributed 2 each. It’s a bit tough to tally every stat in the chaos of the trenches, but the impact was clear: the Dons owned the line of scrimmage. The Bears had no answers, and Acalanes’ identity as a fast, physical, and fearless team was on full display. The “Fear the Blue” motto wasn’t just a slogan Friday night…it was a reality. While the fourth quarter saw the Dons slow the tempo, the damage had already been done. With a running clock in effect, the focus shifted to execution and finishing strong.
One unexpected twist was the absence of ace kicker Santo Vignoles, who was out due to illness (those persistent Bay Area germs make their rounds on many teams, it happens!). That opened the door for River Lockwood, who stepped up in a big way. Lockwood handled the kicking duties with confidence, giving Acalanes a chance, as well, to test its two-point conversion packages and explore new offensive formations. As always, Acalanes didn’t just patch holes; they found smart, sustainable solutions. This program doesn’t rely on duct tape fixes; it builds with super glue ( or ‘super blue’)
With a commanding 42-3 win, Acalanes improves to 2-0 and makes it clear they’re one of the region’s top dogs. If Elerts keeps running like he’s got something to prove, Rivera, Ricker, Boselli, and Michlitsch keep hauling in big catches, and the Dons’ defense sticks to their “No Yards. No Mercy.” mantra…good luck stopping them. If this squad keeps executing and evolving like they did Friday night, don’t be surprised when they’re making serious noise deep into the postseason.
Preview for Friday Evening in San Francisco: Next up, the Dons hit the road for a 5 PM showdown at St. Ignatius. Acalanes rolls in at 2–0, while the Wildcats sit at 1–1 after a hard-fought 27–24 loss to San Marin and a dominant 48–0 win over Tamalpais. One thing is clear: Fear the Blue isn’t just a chant — it’s a warning.