On Monday night the Dons traveled to Walnut Creek for a showdown with last year’s number one seed in the Diablo Athletic League playoffs, the Northgate Broncos. The Dons brought their ropes, saddles and boots with one mission in mind, to hold on for 8 seconds and tame the Broncos potent offense. On the line was nothing less than an 11 game winning streak and a steady march towards an unbeaten season.
The Dons started on offense and what a start it was. Junior all-everything quarterback Ines Coyne’s first pass of the night was a dart to 1st team all league receiver Maya Shoenhair for 10. Coyne then pitched to sophomore standout Isabelle Agnost who quickly gained 15 more. Another run from Agnost got the ball to the Broncos 12 yard line. On 3rd and goal from the 12, Agnost kicked with her spurs and left Bronco defenders in the dust, racing into the endzone for the touchdown. The point after was no good and the Dons were out to a quick 6-0 lead. On Northgate’s first possession the Dons’ dominant defense immediately asserted itself. On first down, pash-rusher extraordinaire Julia Munter stopped the Broncos for no gain. On second down, linebacker Santana Tamayo, stopped the Broncos after a 1 yard gain and on 3rd down, linebacker Stella Beuchotte stopped the play for no gain to force a quick 3 and out. On the ensuing drive, the Dons offense would march down the field taking up the remainder of the first quarter and continuing into the second. Coyne continued her hot start, firing a laser to receiver Mira Clark. A Bronco defender got there too early and was flagged for the pass interference giving the Dons 10 free yards and another first down. On the next play it was Coyne to Clark again, this time for 8. The Broncos defense stood strong for the next several plays but on 4th and 5, Coyne pitched to Agnost who galloped for 9 and a first down. The Dons two-stepped their way down to the 16 yard line. The Northgate defense had figured out by this point that this Agnost kid could run. Well she can throw too. On 3rd and goal, with the entire Northgate defense crashing down on her like a Texas tornado, Agnost launched a 20 yard pass into the endzone to wide open Tamayo for the touchdown, a great call by Sheriff Mike Ivankovich and Deputy Joe Escobar. The point after was no good and the lead stood at 12-0.
The Dons stellar defense, captained by merciless linebacker Avery DeMent, continued to domesticate the Broncos offense forcing another punt. Acalanes’ next drive began with Prime Time Natal doing prime time things. Natal grabbed the punt made several defenders miss and sprinted down the right sideline for a return of 35 yards setting up the offense with excellent field position. Coyne then found Clark for another 10 yard gain to threaten the Broncos redzone. Unfortunately, the Broncos defense made a nice play and intercepted the next pass ending the drive. Don’t worry folks. A posse of Don defenders would make sure the next drive went nowhere. On a 3rd an 8, Beuchotte knocked down a pass and on 4th and 8, Prime Time Natal batted away the pass to force the turnover on downs. The Broncos made one more attempt at westward expansion before the end of the first half. The Broncos loaded their wagons and marched steadily all the way down to the Dons 10 yard line. On 3rd and 10 the Broncos QB, under relentless pressure, threw an incomplete pass. On 4th down? You shall not pass! The Dons forced the turnover on downs to go into half time up 12-0.
The second half saw the Broncos make a tactical shift. They moved their speediest player to quarterback. The Dons’ defense would spend the rest of the game chasing the jackrabbit cleverly disguised as a Bronco all over the field. Good thing we have fast girls too. On the Broncos first drive, DeMent had a nice pass defensed and the defense forced another turnover on downs on an unsuccessful 4th and 12. On the ensuing Acalanes drive it was time for Coyne to put away the six shooter and show off the bolt action rifle. After several penalties the Dons were backed into a 3rd and we’ll call it 30. It could have been 3rd and 60 and it would not have mattered. With the Broncos stampeding towards her, Coyne launched a massive, arcing spiral towards a streaking Shoenhair. The ball seemed to hang in the air forever and everyone in the stands who was doing the mental calculus could only reach one inevitable conclusion: the pass was perfect. Coyne’s ball landed gently in the outstretched arms of Shoenhair in full stride. Shoenhair streaked into the endzone for the 65 yard SportsCenter worthy touchdown putting the Dons up 18-0. This was the Dons longest pass play of the year.
The 4th quarter was a standoff until the very end. The Broncos were able to score on the very last play of the game even though the officials in New York agreed with the Acalanes fans that the Bronco runner was down at the 1 inch line. The final score was Dons 18 Northgate 6. The Dons wiped the sweat from their brows, loaded up their saddles and rode off into the sunset with their 11th consecutive victory and continued to be perfect for the season. Next up for the Dons is Clayton Valley at home on Wednesday night. The Dons have never beaten the Ugly Eagles who come in sporting an impressive 9-3 record. Well, there are a lot of things these girls had never done until this season. What’s one more? Go DONS!!!
