The North Coast Section Division 2 playoffs kicked off Wednesday night with your #4 seed Acalanes Dons hosting the #13 seed Benicia Panthers. The Dons won the regular season matchup between the two teams 34-20 but nobody was expecting an easy game because in the playoffs, anything can happen. To mark the occasion, the Acalanes band was out in force, playing the national anthem and lifting the spirits of the crowd throughout the first half.
After trading punts on the opening possessions, the Dons got down to work. Led by senior quarterback Stella Beuchotte, the offense marched methodically down the field for one of their most efficient drives of the season. Beuchotte started by finding receiver Yali Avrahami for a 5 yard completion before junior runningback Isabelle Agnost ripped off a scintillating 20 yard run. Senior stud Avery DeMent snagged an 8 yard pass. Prime Time June Natal hauled in a 6 yarder. Agnost ripped off 8 more. Beuchotte ran it herself for 5 before finding star receiver Ines Coyne for 5. Now, deep in Panther territory, Beuchotte reared back and fired a laser to DeMent over the middle for the 12 yard touchdown. DeMent snagged the PAT, because why not, and the Dons were up 7-0.
The Dons next drive was equally as impressive but ultimately the offense could not come away with points. Coyne snagged a pass for 9 yards, Natal caught a 10 yarder and then Beuchotte used her legs on an electric 20 yard scramble. However, the drive stalled on 4th and goal from the 1 when a Beuchotte pass attempt fell incomplete. The silver lining was that Benicia had to take over backed up against their own goal line. The always stout defense, helped out by a great pass defensed from DeMent forced a punt from deep in Panther territory. After taking over at the Benicia 38 yard line, the Dons had their first big play of the night. DeMent went deep on a wheel route. Beuchotte launched a long, arcing spiral. Somehow, while being blanketed by two defenders, DeMent was able to make the contested catch and leave the stunned defenders in the dust for the highlight reel 30 yard touchdown! Coyne caught the PAT and the lead was 14-0. The defense continued their stingy play with Beuchotte making a timely interception as the half wound down to halt a Benicia drive. At the half the score remained 14-0.
I have said it a million times. Prime time players make prime time plays. The second half was Prime Time Natal’s time to shine. After forcing a 3 and out to start the third quarter, Prime Time Natal fielded the punt in her own territory and like a hot knife through butter, sliced through the Panther defense for a 55 yard yard touchdown, her second punt return for a TD of the year. Deion would have been proud. DeMent locked up the PAT and the lead was now 21-0. Prime Time was not finished, far from it! On Benicia’s next possession guess who snagged the interception in Panther territory? Prime Time Natal. The Dons took over on the Benicia 30 to start the 4th quarter. To start the drive Beuchotte showed off her elusiveness, putting the Panther defenders on roller skates to buy time before finding a wide open Mira Clark for the 18 yard completion. The drive looked in trouble, however, after a 10 yard illegal contact penalty pushed the Dons back out of the redzone. Not to worry. Beuchotte saved her best throw of the season for this moment. Beuchotte took the snap and fired a 23 yard frozen rope that would have made Brock Purdy proud, to an incutting Prime Time Natal. Natal snagged the incoming missile for the 23 yard score. The PAT was no good and the score was 27-0.
Prime Time Natal sealed the game with her second interception of the Panthers quarterbacks a few drives later. For those paying attention that’s two touchdowns and two interceptions for Prime Time Natal, all in the second half. The Dons faithful got a glimpse of the future as the Dons ran out the clock behind the legs of freshman runningbacks Eloise Kemp and newly minted varsity team member Daphne Huang. On defense, newly minted freshman linebacker Dheliya Guiro had a pass defensed to help ice the win.
With the win, the #4 seeded Dons advanced to the NCS Division 2 quarterfinals this Saturday. The Dons will face the #5 seed San Marin Mustangs who sport a record of 18-3. San Marin defeated the #12 seed Montgomery Vikings 26-7 to earn the honor of facing the Dons. The game kicks off at 1 pm at Acalanes. Come out and cheer as the Dons continue yet another deep playoff run. See you in the stands!