The glitz and glamour of Monday Night Football traveled to Moraga CA this week as the visiting Acalanes Dons took on their cross town rivals, the Campolindo Cougars, for middle school bragging rights in the final game of the regular season.  It was senior night for Campolindo.  The Cougars rolled out a giant, light up “C” and had their cheerleading squad out in force to show their seniors off in style.  In a classy move, the Cougars acknowledged the six seniors on the visiting Dons.  Once the celebration and photos were concluded, it was time for some football.  

The Dons started with the ball and immediately went on the march.  On an early 3rd and 5, quarterback Ines Coyne scrambled for 8 and a first down.  Once at midfield, Coyne hit senior Maya Shoenhair for a 10 yard gain.  On a second and 8, Coyne pitched to sophomore running back Isabelle Agnost for 15 more.  The Dons seemed unstoppable.  However, on 1st and goal from the Cougars’ 11 yard line the Dons were flagged for a 10 yard penalty which pushed them out of the redzone all  the way back to the Cougar 21 yard line.  No problem.  After a few short yardage gains, on 3rd and goal from the 14, Coyne fired a strike to Shoenhair on a deep out in the right corner of the endzone for the touchdown.  The PAT was no good and the Dons were out to a quick 6-0 lead.  On Campolindo’s first possession the defense started strong.  On second down, first team all league linebacker Stella Beuchotte sacked the Cougars quarterback to force a 3rd and 25.  The subsequent pass was incomplete and Campolindo was forced to punt.  The Dons received the ball at midfield and went right back on the march.  On a pivotal 4th and 9, Coyne scrambled for 10 to keep the drive alive.  The first quarter ended with the Dons on the move, up 6-0.  On second and goal from the Cougars 20, Coyne lofted a deep, arcing pass to the left corner of the endzone into the outstretched arms of superstar junior, Avery DeMent on a deep corner route for the highlight touchdown.  Coyne ran in the 2 yard PAT and the Dons were off and running, up 13-0.  

The Dons defense continued to be the backbone of the team’s success this year.  Defensive backs Shoenhair and Prime Time Natal both knocked down deep pass attempts by the strong armed Cougar quarterback keeping Campolindo out of the endzone.  The Dons last drive of the half saw Coyne lead the offense down the field with surgical precision.  The Dons started at their own 4 yard line.  Option plays to sophomore sensation Agnost quickly had the Dons out of trouble and on the move.  Coyne then hit Shoenhair for 10 more.  Senior center Leslie Trowbridge hauled in a pass on a tense 4th and 1 to keep the drive alive.  In what seemed like an instant replay, Coyne lofted another beautiful pass to DeMent in the left corner of the endzone for DeMent’s second touchdown of the night.  Coyne ran in the PAT and at the half the Dons lead 20-0.  

The Cougars received the ball coming out of the half and sack specialist Julia Munter quickly put an end to the Campolindo drive.  Munter had a huge sack on 3rd down forcing Campolindo to punt.  The Dons took over at midfield.  Coyne and Agnost got the ball rolling with some chunk yardage on the ground  and then on first and goal from the 20, Munter showed she can play a little offense too,  Munter took the handoff from Coyne, shimmied and swerved, cut to the outside and outraced a pack of Cougars for the 20 yard touchdown.  The PAT was no good and the Dons led 26-0.  Was Munter finished?  Absolutely not!  On the ensuing Campolindo drive, Munter had another huge sack to force a 3rd and long leading to another Cougar punt.

Campo finally reached the endzone in the fourth quarter to cut the Dons lead to 26-6.  The Dons were not having it.  On the very next possession Coyne pitched to the speedster Agnost who turned on the jets and left Cougars in her wake for a 45 yard touchdown down the near sideline.  Coyne fired a laser beam to Shoenhair for the PAT and the Dons extended their lead to 33-6.  On the Dons final drive of the night, with Beuchotte under center, the offense put together another machine-like drive.  On a 4th and 3, Beuchotte scrambled for 6 and the first down.  On a second and goal from the 6, Beuchotte hit Trowbridge in the endzone for her first passing touchdown as a Don.  Beuchotte ran in the PAT and that concluded the scoring for the night, Dons 40 Campo 6.

The win marked the end of a remarkable regular season for Acalanes. The Dons finished with a 14-2 record, are currently ranked #2 in NCS division 2 and are ranked in the top 10 in both the East Bay Times and SF Chronicle flag football polls.  Next up for the Dons is the North Coast Section division 2 playoffs.  Final seedings and opponents will be released on Sunday night.  While the Dons next opponent is currently unknown, one thing is for sure, Coaches Mike Ivankovich, Joe Escobar and the rest of their staff have done a remarkable job this year and will have the girls ready to make a deep playoff run.  Go Dons!!