When the final horn sounded at Las Lomas on Friday night, the scoreboard said it all: Acalanes 40, Las Lomas 28. History made. The Dons became the first football team in school history to finish 10–0, a perfect season built on heart, hustle, and family. It took everyone, the players who battled every down, the coaches who guided every step, the parents, volunteers and ACA admin who held it all together, and the students and fans who never stopped believing. This is who we are.
10–0. Undefeated. Unshakable. Unbelievable. The Dons made history…together.
Ten games. Ten wins. Zero doubts. This fall, Acalanes football didn’t just play, they united.
Game Recap: The Dons saved their grittiest performance for last and made it count against Las Lomas. Acalanes proved why they’ve ruled the league all year. Deonte Littlejohn bulldozed his way to 110 yards and 3 TDs on 24 carries, setting the tone early. Josh Elerts added 60 yards and 2 scores, one on the ground, one through the air. Tyler Winkles and Wyatt Zawadski tag-teamed at QB, keeping the offense rolling. Grant Ricker hauled in 3 clutch catches for 75 yards, sparking key drives. Then came the defensive storm: Throw in Finn Rivera moving the ball on offense and stopping the ball on defense. Byrce Birdsong was everywhere, safety, sack, forced fumble…pure havoc. Chris Copeland blocked a kick, and “Grant Theft Auto” Condy locked things down. Dons Win. Again! Undefeated!
Hungry from the Jump
In his first season at the helm, Head Coach Joel “Blue” Isaac and his coaching staff have quietly built something special in Lafayette. They don’t chase headlines or attention, they chase growth. They don’t want the spotlight, they want success for their players. Coach Blue’s steady leadership, combined with the tireless work of his assistant coaches, has shaped a culture of discipline, belief, and brotherhood. Every coach on that sideline shares one focus: the boys. Their message is simple: play for each other, trust the process, and let the results speak for themselves. Effort. Accountability. Teamwork. And now, those results echo through history.
It all started months ago, in the summer heat, when Coach Blue walked onto the field with a quiet fire and a mantra that would define everything that followed: “Let’s EAT.” Effort. Accountability. Teamwork. That’s it. No speeches, just three words that became the heartbeat of this team. From sunrise lifts to Friday night lights, the Dons lived it. Every practice, every hit, every snap, they didn’t just play. They feasted. By season’s end, Acalanes had outscored opponents 403–162, averaging 40 points per game and leaving zero doubt who ruled the Diablo Athletic League.
This team wasn’t about one star or one moment; it was about everybody. A locker room that turned into a brotherhood. A roster full of guys who believed in something bigger than themselves. When things got tight, they didn’t panic…they performed. A 42–35 shootout at St. Ignatius? Handled. A 21–10 grind at Miramonte? Locked in. They had that unspoken confidence, the kind you can’t fake because it comes from work no one else sees.
Senior Joey Martin: “It’s special to get it done and set history, but now we’ve got to dig deep, focus, and see how badly we want another week of football.”
Senior Illias Kaplane-Jones: “Making history as the first Acalanes team to go undefeated feels amazing. It starts with the trust, between coaches and players, that puts us in a position to do great things.”
Senior Cody Michlitsch: “Our coaches focus on the process, not necessarily the results. They’ve helped us set high standards and practice good habits, and they stress the importance of doing our best in whatever we’re doing, whether it’s football or life in general. They tell us that when we commit to a process, the results will take care of themselves.”
Senior Tommy Terhar: “We just tried to go 1–0 every week. It stacked up. We’re not surprised to be 10–0. We know who we are, and who we play for. This isn’t just football. It’s about Amin.”
Fear the Blue
Undefeated. Say it again. Undefeated. The regular season may be finished, but the story of this team is far from over. The next chapter begins now: the North Coast Section Playoffs, where the Dons are ready to extend their historic run and prove that perfection was only the beginning. This squad has been nothing short of dominant all year, blending power, precision, and heart into one unstoppable force. Every game, every drive, every tackle, all leading to this moment.
Regular Season by the Numbers:
Record: 10–0 — the first perfect season in school history.
Points Scored: 403 — an offense that couldn’t be contained.
Points Allowed: 162 — a defense that shut doors and broke wills.
Average Margin of Victory: +24.1 — control from kickoff to final whistle.
An official announcement is expected by midday on Sunday, and current indications suggest the Dons will likely host a home game in the NCS playoffs. With a perfect 10–0 record and dominant performances throughout the regular season, Acalanes is projected to earn a high seed in the bracket, positioning them among the top teams in their division, Open Division, perhaps?! We will wait and see. Advancing to the semifinals or even the championship game is well within reach. Key factors to watch include how the team handles playoff intensity, the strength of their opponents, health and depth late in the season, and in-game adjustments, the Dons aren’t just in the playoffs, they’re legitimate contenders, and a section title run is a very realistic goal if they bring the same dominance they displayed all season. But for now…The Dons made history, but they’re not satisfied. The hunger’s still there. The energy’s rising. The mission continues.