Heartbreak in The Creek

The red hot Dons arrived at Northgate High School Stadium riding a four game winning streak and had every reason to believe they would walk away with five in a row.

QB Ashby Raher set the tone from the first snap hitting Avery Titus on a 16 yard 1st down completion and an early statement of intent. After another quick 1st down the offense stalled and Raher was sacked on 4th down to give the ball to Northgate inside Dons territory.

The Broncos wasted no time by breaking off a 35 yard run from scrimmage and scoring 3 plays later to take a 7 – 0. After the early score both defenses dug in.

Acalanes’ turned to their vaunted run game, but the Broncos held tough, allowing only short yardage gains and forcing a Dons punt. The Dons’ defense was equally prolific highlighted by tackles from Lauren Gallagher, Rania Adil, Ximena Espinosa Angel, and Ashlyn McCoin which stopped the Northgate running game before it could get started.

The game was shaping up as a see-saw defensive battle until Adil picked off the Northgate QB and took the return 42 yards, deep into Broncos territory. The Dons went to their ground game to push the ball to the goal line where Raher hit Adil for the TD. A missed extra point attempt made it 7 – 6 going into halftime.

After the break the Dons defense came up big again with a quick sack by Violette Cline and several key tackles for short gains including a critical ones by Julia Polson Flanigan and Emilia Deutsch Stella forcing multiple Broncos punts.

But neither offense had much to offer, the Dons turned over on downs, the Broncos punted and it looked like the defenses would have the final say. 

But The Dons dug deep and, helped by a roughing the passer penalty, went on an 8 play drive highlighted by catches by Cline, and a reverse run to the goal line by Margaret Stirling which set up the 1 yard TD plunge by McCoin. The Dons went for 2 but failed to convert which would prove costly, but took a 12 – 7 lead into the 4th quarter.

After trading punts once again the Broncos got the ball back with 38 seconds left and one last shot to win. Despite two QB sacks by Amber Qin and one by McCoin, a roughing the passer call set the Broncos up on 4th and goal and with 8 seconds left, they scored what would prove to be the winning touchdown. The Dons attempted a heroic comeback but Northgate intercepted the hail mary pass and took it to the house for a final score of 19 – 12. 

Against The Ugly Eagles, Beauty Is In the Eye of the Beholder

The Dons welcomed Clayton Valley Charter into ACAstadium and, even though they call themselves the Ugly Eagles, The Dons saw beauty everywhere.

From the first snap The Dons showed why they are known for their gritty defense, with a tackle for no gain and two successive incompletions forcing a three and out and a punt.

Adil fielded the punt and after a 12 yard return, Acalanes was set up for success. On the first play from scrimmage Raher hit Titus for a 12 yard catch. After a Clayton Valley penalty pushed the Dons into Ugly Eagles territory, consecutive runs by Titus and an extra point connection between Raher and Gallagher put the Dons up 7 – 0 early.

After some more impressive Dons defense forced a punt but saw a promising eight play drive stall in Clayton Valley territory. The Ugly Eagles took advantage immediately, ripping off a 55 yard run down to the 6 yard line and then punching in the TD to tie the game 7 – 7.

But no problem. Raher calmly led The Dons on a nine play drive, which included two QB keepers, and was capped off with her 1 yard TD pass to McCoin putting the Dons back up 13 – 7.  

Once again the defense forced a turnover on downs and once again Raher drove The Dons to the promised land hitting Gallagher for a 10 yard TD going into halftime up 20 – 7.

The Dons took the ball after the half and keeping with the script forged a 12 play drive deep into Clayton Valley territory but couldn’t find the end zone. Clayton Valley made The Dons pay as their star running back went for 77 yards and a quick TD, closing the gap to 20 – 13, but missing the extra point thanks to a timely tackle by Cline.

Thanks to Raher’s steady leadership and excellent downfield blocking by Kamyrn Dudley, Maddie Garber, Stirling, Gallagher and McCoin, The Dons ground out another long, 12 play drive, highlighted by multiple 1st down runs from Titus, a long keeper by Raher, and a strong inside run for a 1st down by Adil, culminating in a TD pass from Raher to Gallagher, stretching the lead to 27 – 13.

After trading punts Clayton Valley took the ball in their own territory with the clock running down and immediately connected on what appeared to be a 60 yard TD pass and catch. But a flag was on the ground and The Ugly Eagles were whistled for flag guarding and the TD was nullified, pushing them back 10 yards. One play later, McCoin iced it with an interception, sealing a 27-13 victory.