What a season finale! The Dons wrapped up the final week of the regular season with two more wins. A convincing 49-6 victory over Mt. Diablo High School on Monday and then a thrilling, last second win over the highly ranked, home town rival Campolindo Cougars. The game versus Campolindo was senior night and the seniors showed up and stole the show!
On Monday the Dons traveled to Mt. Diablo high school to face the much improved Devils. By the time the dust settled, the Dons proved that they were still too much for Mt. Diablo to handle. The fireworks started early. After forcing a 3 and out, Prime Time June Natal took the punt and returned it 50 yards for the touchdown. This is only the second punt return for a touchdown in program history. The Dons were quickly up 7-0. Stud quarterback and linebacker Stella Beuchotte intercepted a pass on the Devils’ next possession. Beuchotte then called her own number and ran the ball in for the touchdown to grow the lead to 14-0. Mt. Diablo showed over the next few possessions that they were a much improved team. The Devils, behind solid quarterback play, were able to drive the length of the field and score a touchdown. At halftime the lead was a tenuous 14-6.
In the second half, the Dons put the game away. All-league running back Isabelle Agnost zig zagged through the Devils defense on a 30 yard scoring run. Beuchotte picked off another pass setting up a 30+ yard strike to star receiver Ines Coyne for a touchdown. The Dons used some trickery on their next possession. Beuchotte handed off to Coyne who fired a 35 yard dot to fellow super senior Avery DeMent for the score. The Devils threatened on their next drive marching down to the Acalanes 1 yard line but the drive ended with the pass being intercepted by who else, Ines Coyne, and girl oh girl Coyne was not finished. On the very next play, Coyne caught a short pass from Beuchotte, made the outside defender miss and outran the entire Devils defense for the longest scoring play in Acalanes flag football history, 79 yards.
The scoring was complete when fab freshman, Eloise Kemp, showed off the moves that earned her a varsity roster spot. Kemp took the pitch, zigged and zagged past half the Devils defense and raced into the endzone for the 20 yard score. Hazel Raaum snagged the point after from quarterback Ashby Raher to make the final score Dons 49 Devils 6. I’d be remiss not to highlight Coyne’s evening. Two touchdown receptions, including the longest in program history, a touchdown passing and an interception. A great game for sure but history will show that this was not even her best game of the week! That…was yet to come.
Wednesday night was the main event with the 5th ranked Campolindo Cougars making the cross town visit to Acalanes. The game had playoff implications with the winner assured to secure at least one home playoff game for NCS. It was also senior night and the stands were packed with the family and friends of the Acalanes senior players. It was fitting then that on senior night the senior stars of the team would orchestrate one of the greatest finishes in program history.
The game started with Coyne picking right up where she left off against Mt. Diablo. Starting on defense, Coyne had a sack, a flag pull for a loss and then another sack to force the Cougars to punt on their opening possession. The Dons offense looked in peak form on their first drive. Quarterback Stella Beuchotte ran for 12 yards, hit Coyne for 10, DeMent for 5 before launching a 28 yard bomb to Prime Time Natal for the touchdown. Santana Tamayo caught the point after and the Dons were up 7 to nothing. A perfect start to the game but the Cougars are highly ranked for a reason. On Campolindo’s next possession, behind the arm and legs of their electric quarterback, the Cougar offense marched down the field and scored a touchdown to tie the game up at 7.
The offense responded with a second straight march down the field. Beuchotte immediately went to Coyne for a pass play of 16 yards. Next, the Dons used their favorite trick play. The handoff went to Coyne who found Tamayo for 25 yards and an Acalanes first down! Agnost ran for 9, Beuchotte ran for 10 and a holding penalty against the Cougars added 10 yards to the play. Beuchotte found Coyne again for another 12 before running the ball herself for the 7 yard touchdown. The point after was no good and the Dons retook the lead 13 – 6. On Campolindo’s ensuing possession, with the Cougars driving, Prime Time Natal made a prime time play, out jumping a Cougar receiver to make the interception inside the Dons redzone. At the half the score remained 13 – 7.
Defense reigned supreme in the third quarter with both heavy weights refusing to give ground. Campolindo threatened in the red zone but Santana Tamayo saved the day with a timely interception. On the Cougars next possession it was Prime Time Natal’s turn to save the day with a great pass defensed on a deep pass. At the end of three the score remained 13-7.
The Cougar drive to start the 4th quarter was one of the most frustrating of the entire season as a string of penalties were called against the Dons allowing Campolindo to walk down the field. The drive resulted in a touchdown but heavy pressure on the point after led to an incompletion and a tie score of 13-13 with the clock winding down. The Dons caught their breath and looked ready to put the game away on their next drive. Beuchotte found Natal for 5 and again for 6. Beuchotte ran for 5 and then a huge pass interference penalty against Campolindo pushed the ball into Cougar territory. Beuchotte ran for 8, found Coyne for 9 before running it again for 8 more. And then, just when Acalanes seemed poised to score the go ahead touchdown, a Campolindo defender stepped in front of a Beuchotte pass for the interception. It looked as though the game might be headed to overtime.
The Campolindo offense took over but the Dons defense, the backbone of this team for the past two years, stood strong and forced a game saving 3 and out. Fab freshman Eloise Kempo fielded the punt in Don territory, made several defenders miss and advanced the ball to the Camplindo 35 yard line with around 1 minute remaining, setting up the Acalanes offense with great field position. Beuchotte, unfazed by the earlier interception, took the field. Beuchotte found Coyne for 7…tick tick tick…Coyne again for 8…tick tick tick and Coyne again for 5. A roughing the passer penalty pushed the ball deep into the Cougars redzone. With 14 seconds remaining Beuchotte took the snap, rolled to her right and found Coyne, streaking across the middle for the touchdown! The crowd went wild…until they saw the bright yellow flag laying on the field. I cannot tell you exactly what was called but it felt like the cruel hand of fate had snatched victory from the Dons while forcing them back 10 yards. Now, with 10 seconds on the clock, the Dons had to regroup from the 15 yard line. Beuchotte took the snap and after surveying a field of covered receivers saw nothing but open grass in front of her. Beuchotte streaked up the field, cut toward the side line and scrambled out of bounds at the 3 yard line. There were 3.7 seconds remaining on the clock. Anyone familiar with Acalanes flag football knows that the Dons have won with less. On the final play of regulation, calm and in command, Beuchotte stood tall in the pocket and fired an absolute strike to Coyne over the middle for the touchdown. Game over. Dons win. Final score Acalanes 19 Campolindo 13.
As the celebration erupted all around, two things occurred to this intrepid reporter. Number one, that chill that descended on the field during the second half? It was emanating from the ice in Stella Beuchotte’s veins. And number two? Ines Coyne is the best two-way player in the Diablo Athletic League. Coyne’s stat line for the week was ridiculous. 17 receptions for 251 yards and 3 touchdowns. 2 passes for 63 yards and a touchdown. 14 flag pulls, 4 for a loss including 3 sacks and an interception. Then there is the cherry on the cake. Coyne caught the game winning touchdown against a highly ranked opponent….TWICE!
With the win, the Dons completed their regular season with an outstanding 13-4 record. The NCS Division 2 playoff bracket was released Sunday morning. The Dons secured the #4 seed and will host the #13 seed Benicia Panthers on Wednesday night. See you in the stands!