In the first-ever Acalanes JV flag football game, Coaches Sverak, Malmquist, Miller, and Garcia had their squad ready from the first snap. Sophomore running back Avery Titus ripped off a long run on the first play from scrimmage and set the tone, though the Dons eventually turned the ball over on downs.
Freedom scored first but missed the conversion. Acalanes responded with an extended drive highlighted by a long catch and run from sophomore QB Ashby Raher to freshman Rania Adil, more strong running from Titus, and a pitch from Raher to freshman Lauren Gallagher for the Dons’ first touchdown, tying the game 6–6.
The tie didn’t last, as Freedom answered with a 40-yard touchdown to go up 12–6, but Adil intercepted the extra point attempt—the first of her two interceptions on the night—to keep it close. When a short punt gave Freedom prime field position, the Dons’ defense held, thanks to a touchdown-saving tackle by sophomore linebacker Ashlyn McCoin.
Freedom’s pressure slowed the Acalanes offense, and another touchdown extended their lead to 18–6. With just 36 seconds left in the half, the Dons mounted a quick drive but came up short on fourth down. Freedom got the ball in Dons territory but a last-second heave was batted away by freshman Julia Polson Flanagin to send the teams to halftime.
Freedom struck quickly after the break, pushing the lead to 24–6, but the Dons answered with some creative option plays from Raher to McCoin gaining back-to-back first downs. The drive stalled near midfield, yet the defense stepped up again as freshman Emilia Deutsch Stella’s strong tackle forced a punt.
In the fourth quarter, the Dons tightened the screws on defense. Freshmen Amber Qin, Kamryn Dudley, Ximena Espinosa Angel, and Maddie Garber blanketed Freedom’s receivers, setting up a backfield stop by Margaret Stirling to end one promising Freedom drive, and the Dons kept Freedom out of the end zone the rest of the way.
Though Freedom came away with the win, Acalanes’ determination and never say die attitude shows early signs of a team that will compete until the final whistle.
