Dons Ride Momentum to Second Win, Defeat Concord 24–14
Fresh off their historic first program win last week, the Acalanes JV flag football team kept rolling, taking down Concord High 24–14 at The Bears’ stadium.
From the outset, The Dons showed their prowess as sophomore running back Avery Titus set the tone with a 20-yard rush on the first play from scrimmage and a first-down catch from sophomore QB Ashby Raher. Freshmen Lauren Gallagher and Margaret Stirling followed with big gains, but Concord’s defense stood tall at the goal line, stopping Titus short of the end zone.
Concord’s first possession went nowhere, thanks to key tackles from Gallagher and sophomore Ashlyn McCoin, and the Bears were forced to punt. After a short, punt the Dons quickly capitalized, as Titus broke through for a 12-yard touchdown run, putting Acalanes ahead 6–0.
The Dons defense stayed hot. Freshman Rania Adil and Stirling knocked away passes, McCoin stuffed the run, and Concord punted again. The offense took over and wasted no time, with Raher finding Adil for a quick completion before Titus sprinted 43 yards to the house for a 12–0 lead.
The defensive secondary took over from there. Freshmen Emilia Deutsch Stella, Kamryn Dudley, and Adil locked down the passing game with consecutive breakups, forcing another punt. The offense responded with a grinding drive and Titus chewing up yards, and Gallagher making a clutch catch, before Titus punched in a 1-yard TD run to extend the lead to 18–0 at halftime.
But Concord came out of the halftime break determined. Despite a key pass breakup by freshman Violette Cline, the Bears connected on the next play for a 32-yard strike into Dons territory and then scored to cut the deficit to 18–8.
But Acalanes answered right back. Titus broke free for a 25-yard touchdown run, pushing the lead to 24–8. The Bears kept fighting, taking advantage of a Dons defensive penalty early in the fourth to score again, making it 24–14. But that’s where the comeback ended. The Dons’ defense locked in for the final stretch, sealing a 24–14 victory and the team’s second win.
Dons Blank Piedmont 41–0 for Second Win of the Week
In their second game of the week, Acalanes hosted the Piedmont Highlanders for their first Friday night lights game and kept their momentum rolling, delivering a dominant 41–0 shutout that showcased their balance on offense, special teams, and defense.
The tone was set immediately. On Piedmont’s very first snap, freshman Ximena Espinosa Angel had a huge tackle that put the Highlanders on notice. Avery Titus and Lauren Gallagher followed with tackles for losses, and freshman Rania Adil returned the ensuing punt deep into Piedmont territory. The Dons struck right away. Titus hauled in a pass from sophomore QB Ashby Raher and raced 27 yards to the end zone. Gallagher added the extra point for a 7–0 lead.
The defense continued to swarm, with Titus recording a sack, Espinosa Angel making a quick tackle, and sophomore Ashlyn McCoin breaking up a pass. Adil’s 32-yard punt return set up another Titus touchdown, stretching the lead to 13–0.
On the next series, Violette Cline delivered a key tackle to force another punt, and the offense pounced, as Titus and Gallagher connected for a 16-yard gain and Margaret Stirling added an 8-yard run. Titus capped it with her third touchdown of the night, pushing the score to 20–0.
The highlight reel kept building. After another defensive stop, Titus fielded a punt and dashed 41 yards for a score, making it 27–0. The defense locked down once more, with freshman Amber Qin blowing up a run in the backfield and McCoin making a short-yardage stop to force another punt.
As the halftime clock wound down the Dons pushed for a late score, with catches by freshmen Julie Polson Flanigan and Adil getting them close to paydirt before they turned it over on downs to end the half up 27–0.
The second half opened with McCoin picking up a first down and Raher hitting Gallagher for a deep 19-yard completion, though a penalty stalled the drive. No problem as the Dons defense was up for the task. Stirling intercepted a pass and returned it 15 yards, and moments later McCoin broke loose on a 21-yard TD run. Gallagher’s extra point made it 34–0.
Despite all the touchdowns the defense was the story of the night with Qin’s tackling, freshman Maddie Garber’s pass breakup, a quick tackle by Stella’s and an interception by Gallagher to give the ball back to the Dons once again.
With 33 seconds left, Gallagher took over behind center and connected with Adil for a long touchdown pass as time expired, sealing a 41–0 victory.
It was a complete performance from start to finish with explosive offense, electric special teams, and a defense that continues to prove itself as the backbone of the team.