The JV Flag Football team continued their busy early season by visiting Freedom on Monday and hosting Monte Vista in their home opener on Wednesday.
The Dons travelled to Oakley to face the Falcons on their home (and hot!) turf and came up on the short end of a 7-0 score. The Dons defense played another strong game but a long, last-second TD pass between two defenders at the end of the first half put the Falcons ahead for good. The Dons offense exhibited some early season growing pains but managed a big play late in the 4th quarter as QB Ivana Adolphson connected with Margaret Stirling on a 20-yard gain down the left sideline but the drive stalled soon thereafter. Alyssa Matter and Daphne Hwang each caught two balls in the game but the Dons struggled to move the ball consistently. On the defensive side, linebacker Dheliya Guiro led the way with 5 flag pulls and rusher Amber Qin contributed two sacks and chased down two other ball carriers with great hustle.
The Dons then hosted Monte Vista at home and tamed the Mustangs with some big plays and another stout defensive effort to produce a 20-0 victory. Adolphson opened the scoring for the Dons on a short run at the end of a 13-play drive that ate up most of the 2nd quarter. The Dons defense continued to stymie the Mustangs passing attack as pass rushers Maria Sakaguti and Amber Qin harassed the MV QB and made a couple of timely sacks while the linebackers and defensive backs blanketed the receivers. Margaret Stirling grabbed her second interception of the early season and Sylvie Prado sealed the victory with a couple pass breakups and a late interception on a long throw deflected to Prado by Emi Tippett. The game’s highlight was a 66-yard dash by running back Zoey Schweifler that electrified the home crowd and put the Dons up by two scores. Clara Sargent closed the scoring with a catch and run off a short crossing pattern.
The JV Dons face two more tests next week when Liberty Ranch visits Acalanes on Tuesday then the Dons trek out to Livermore on Thursday to face Granada.
