Even though it was mid-September, Monday night felt like the 4th of July at Concord High School where the visiting Dons traveled to face the home team Bears.  It was the warmest night of the season so far and the Dons offense brought plenty of fireworks.  Led by East Bay Times athlete of the week nominee Ines Coyne, the Dons held nothing back once the game started and the result was explosive play after explosive play.

The good times started early in the first quarter.  The defense, led by superstar star linebacker Avery DeMent, went straight to work forcing a quick punt by the Concord offense.  Coyne wasted no time letting the home town crowd know who she thought should be athlete of the week.  On second down from around her own 35, Coyne launched a rocket to wide out June Natal for a long gain of 30 yards.  A short time later, Coyne handed off to sophomore sensation Isabelle Agnost who streaked around the left edge and dashed into the endzone for an 11 yard touchdown.   Coyne ran in the extra point and the Dons were out to a quick 7-0 lead.  The defense again forced a quick punt allowing Coyne to get back to work.  This time Coyne found wide receiver Mira Clark for a 25 yard bomb down the left sideline for a touchdown.  Coyne then fired a strike to receiver Santana Tamayo and the Dons lead quickly grew to 14-0.  Concord tried to strike back on their ensuing possession with a deep pass down the middle but the ball was batted away by the pesky Natal who was lurking in the secondary.  At the end of the 1st quarter the score was Dons 14 Bears 0.  

The Bears made a poor decision to go for it on a 4th and 4 deep in their own territory at the start of the second quarter.  The pass fell incomplete and the Dons took over inside the redzone.  Wasting no time, Coyne fired a pass to Tamayo in the endzone for a 16 yard touchdown.  On the point after, Coyne threaded the needle to Natal, who was sandwiched between several defenders, for the point after.  The lead was now 21-0.   After another Concord punt it was running back Julia Munter’s turn to tote the rock.  Munter took the handoff and exploded into the second level of Concord’s defense.   Looking like Walter Payton, Munter made a quick cut to the inside, lowered her shoulder and collided with a Concord defender who was, how shall we say this, in the wrong place at the wrong time.  The run was good for a 15 yard gain.  On second and goal from inside the 5, Coyne scrambled around the left edge and had her legs taken out by a Concord defender.  The penalty resulted in the ball being placed at the one yard line and a replay of the down.  The Dons took advantage with Coyne handing off to Agnost who skirted into the endzone for her second touchdown of the night.  The point after was another run by Agnost and the score was now 28-0.  Concord would finally break through on their next possession.  A long pass was completed down the near sideline and the receiver was able to shimmy past a defender for the 40 yard score.  The point after was no good and the score was Dons 28 Bears 6.  The clock was getting very low in the first half but the Dons offense did not need much time.  On their next possession Coyne lofted a beautiful, arcing pass to DeMent, who pulled in the over the shoulder catch in stride for a 30 yard gain.  On the next play Coyne threw another perfectly placed pass to receiver Maya Shoenhair whose strong hands snatched the ball out of the air.  There was some unfortunate conduct by a Concord defender on this play.  The referees sorted out the situation and the result was Dons’ ball at the 1 yard line.  Coyne ran the ball in for the touchdown and fired the point after to DeMent to make the score 35-6 Dons at the half.

The third quarter started with a great defensive play by safety Leah Roth.  Concord was getting desperate.  The Bears’ quarterback heaved a ball down the center of the field.  Roth stalked the pass like a bird of prey and snatched it out of the air for the interception.  The Dons took over at around their own 35 yard line.  With Natal now in at quarterback the fireworks would continue.  Running an option right, Natal pitched the ball to running back Noelle Dobies.  Like she was shot out of a cannon, Dobies cut up the near sideline, made several defenders miss, and raced into the endzone for the 40 yard score.  The point after was no good and the Dons led the Bears 41-6  

The 4th quarter would see an Acalanes flag football program first.  On 3rd down, Concord went deep but the pass was knocked away by Clark who was playing air tight coverage in the secondary.  On 4th and 21 the Bears elected to punt.  Maybe they shouldn’t have.  It was a really nice kick, high and far. Unfortunately for the Bears, the ball landed in the arms of Agnost.  With the ball in her hands, Agnost cut to the outside, switched on the hyperdrive and left the Bear’s defense seeing nothing but stars.  50 yards later Agnost crossed the goal line for the punt return touchdown, the first in the history of the program and her third touchdown of the night.  The point after was no good and the score was now Dons 47 Bears 6.  Concord had one last drive but Clark put an end to that with another great play, this time for an interception giving the Dons possession at midfield.  The final play saw Natal take a knee as the Dons notched their 7th win of the season to remain unbeaten.  Next up for the Dons is a home game on Wednesday against the Ygnacio Valley Wolves.  Go Dons!!