The second half of the season began in earnest with a Monday Night Football matchup of the undefeated Acalanes Dons traveling to Martinez to face North Coast Section finalists from a year ago, the Alhambra Bulldogs.  Alhambra, despite their record this year, is loaded with talent and would prove a tough and feisty opponent.  Alhambra is led by very talented freshman quarterback Courtney Reed  who is certain to cause trouble in the Diablo Athletic League for many years to come.  Additionally, Alhambra has track star Eva Brown, who spent her summer competing at the USATF Junior Olympics.  Would the Dons defense be able to stop them?

Alhambra began the first quarter with the ball and it was super senior Julia Munter who immediately made her presence felt.  Munter sacked the Alhambra QB on the very first play and then had a tackle for a loss on the second play, backing the Dogs deep into their own territory.  Terrified of Munter’s relentless pressure, the Dogs false started forcing a 3rd and very long.  The Dogs went deep and the pass was intercepted by the team leader in interceptions, Prime Time June Natal….however, the play was wiped away because of a roughing the passer penalty which gave the Dogs a new set of downs.  This play would prove pivotal in the first half because instead of the Dons having the ball in the opponent’s redzone, the Alhambra offense was able to string together a drive and flip the field position.  Linebacker Avery Dement made her presence felt early with numerous flag pulls and outside linebacker Stella Beuchotte, making her first appearance for the Dons, was also able to get it on the action.  With DeMent and Beuchotte leading the way the Dons were able to force an incomplete pass on 4th and goal from the 16 for the turnover on downs.  The field had been flipped unfortunately and this fact would haunt Acalanes for the entire first half.  The Acalanes offense, led by dual threat QB Ines Coyne, could not get anything going on the ground as the speed of the Alhambra defense, and their stacking of the box,  proved difficult to overcome.  The Dons defense continued to be relentless.  On a 3rd and 5 for Alhambra, Munter again sniffed out the Bulldogs play and had a tackle for a loss forcing another Alhambra punt.  After one quarter where Alhambra dominated the time of possession the score was tied 0-0.

Early in the second quarter the Dogs put together another drive that would test the resolve of the Dons’ defense.  The defense rose to the occasion and forced another incomplete pass on a 4th and goal from the 13.  The Dons would turn the ball over on their next possession as a bit of trickery backfired.  A half-back pass was intercepted by the Dogs giving them possession at the Dons 30 yard line. “Once more unto the breach!” as William Shakespeare said in Henry V.  The defense charged forward and would not yield.  Now linebacker Coyne made a great tackle for a 5 yard loss forcing the Dogs out of the redzone and ultimately on a 4th and goal from the 19 the Dogs were again denied a chance to score.  On their next possession, with Coyne using her legs, the offense was able to put together a drive that fell short on a 4th and 3 attempt.  Alhambra had the last drive of the first half and made good use of it.  A double reverse pass was good for 30 yards taking the Dogs all the way to the Acalanes 10 yard line.  With 2 seconds remaining in the half the Alhambra pass into the endzone was broken up by safety Leah Roth, saving the touchdown.  The score remained 0-0 at the half.  

In the second half the wind, and the tension, picked up.  The two teams traded punt after punt.  The field position battle was more even now, the Dons having survived the numerous redzone incursions of the first half.  Munter continued to rampage through the Alhambra backfield, picking up another sack on an Alhambra drive and forcing a 3rd and long situation which would lead to a punt.  The offense put together a nice drive late in the 3rd.  Isabelle Agnost had a 15 yard punt return setting up the Dons offense nicely.  Then Coyne fired a laser to Prime Time Natal for a 25 yard gain.  Coyne ran for 6 and before you know it the Dons had a first and goal from the 17.  The 3rd quarter came to end with the score still knotted at 0.  

The 4th quarter began with the Alhambra defense refusing to yield, forcing a turnover on downs on a 4th and 15 for the Dons.  Now on defense, Munter came to the rescue and almost immediately recorded another sack pinning the Dogs deep.  They would be forced to punt.  The ensuing drive would win the game.  Return man extraordinaire Maya Shoenhair returned the punt 10 yards.  Coyne used her legs to pick up yards.  Agnost chipped in yards on the ground.  A few plays later, Coyne hit receiver Shoenhair for 15 yards and the Dons were threatening.  Coyne fired a pass to Shoenhaird down to the 2.  A direct snap to Agnost was controversially called down at the 1 despite the obvious visual evidence of it being a touchdown.  Never fear, on 4th and goal from the 1, Coyne hit center Leslie Trowbridge over the middle for the touchdown and the lead.  The point after was no good and the score was now 6-0 Acalanes.  Alhambra got the ball back with 4:58 to play and immediately looked like they were on the move.  As the clock ticked down the Dogs made steady progress.  On 4th and 11 near midfield, their hopes would be dashed as Prime Time Natal stepped in front of an Alhambra pass for the interception and this interception would stick.  Alhambra had one last gasp with about 10 seconds remaining but to no avail and the clock hit triple zeros on the Dons 9th win in a row.

This win wasn’t the prettiest but it demonstrated the grit and resolve of our defense to survive the early field position struggles and the patience of our offense to wait for their opportunity and make the most of it when it came.  Next up for the Dons is a home game against the Mount Diablo Red Devils on Wednesday night.  Can the streak continue?  Tune in on Wednesday to find out.  Go Dons!