AMERICAN CANYON, Calif. — American Canyon called 32 of its 42 offensive plays on the ground to grind out a 34-2 win over visiting Acalanes in rain-soaked conditions at Wolf Den Stadium.
It was the season opener for American Canyon while Acalanes fell to 0-2.
The host Wolves ran for 287 yards on 32 attempts, led by Jovante Maestas’ 114 yards on 16 carries, Royce Tillson’s 67 yards on three carries and Cheyenne Wilson’s 42 yards on six attempts. All three players scored a touchdown.
“This team was definitely not to the level of (Archbishop) Mitty,” Acalanes head coach Dana Hemmingsen said. “(American Canyon) has raw talent, but they can be susceptible to enthusiasm and momentum.”
The game started with Acalanes fumbling the opening kickoff, leading to a 13-yard touchdown run by Wilson. The Dons answered American Canyon’s score with what proved to be their longest drive of the night, aided by a Wolves’ muffed punt at their own 30-yard line that was recovered by Caelen Birrell. Acalanes was forced to punt three plays later.
Acalanes’ defense responded by scoring the Dons’ first points of the season. American Canyon faced a third-and-25 from its own 17-yard line. Acalanes’ Dylan Andersen blew by his blocker and Tate Foster blitzed on a pass attempt. The Dons’ duo went unblocked and met at the American Canyon quarterback, Cameron Villalobos, for a safety sack to pull Acalanes within 6-2 with 8:29 left in the second quarter.
With momentum, Acalanes drove down to the American Canyon 19-yard line keyed by a 10-yard pass to H-back Kai Harmeyer from quarterback Eli Cooley. The Dons’ drive would end after turning the ball over on downs at the American Canyon 19-yard line. The Wolves scored on their ensuing possession via a 62-yard run by Tilson to extend their lead 12-2 at halftime.
American Canyon started the second half with possession and four plays later, that same Dons Defensive Duo reared its head. Andersen hit Wilson behind the line of scrimmage on a rushing attempt and forced a fumble in the process. Foster recovered at midfield. Acalanes advanced to the American Canyon 37-yard line before it stalled. Mateo Potts’ punt was downed inside the 5-yard line with 5:44 left in the second quarter.
The Wolves then marched 96 yards on 9 plays, culminating in Maestas’ 8-yard touchdown run to make it 20-2 with 2:13 left in the third quarter.
“You can see (after the safety) their side was getting quiet,” Hemmingsen said. “But once you get a big play and a spark, that momentum train unleashes and there’s no going back.”
American Canyon would add its final two touchdowns in the fourth quarter via the air by receptions from Roman Reyes (23 yards) and Dan Musa (50).
“We’re going to watch film with the boys, but we don’t have big things to fix as players are learning on both sides of the ball,” Hemmingsen said. “This is 11 pieces of a puzzle that all need to fit together and if one piece is wonky, it doesn’t work. That’s what they’re learning. At their level, the kids see it as a catastrophic breakdown. No, it’s not that. We’re just one block away, or getting the snap back crisper, or setting the edge or getting a good grip on a dry ball.
“Football is almost like a battle of momentum in a lot of ways. We had at least three good routes that were there but the ball was just thrown slightly off. Under better conditions that doesn’t happen to our quarterbacks. Those would’ve been big plays and then our guys would’ve gotten the momentum.”
Foster led Acalanes with 19 yards rushing on 11 carries while Trey Renno and Harmeyer had a reception each for 18 and 10 yards, respectively.
Acalanes won the turnover battle 3-2, as Hunter Stemmer recovered American Canyon’s second fumble of the first half with 59 seconds left to play. Andersen finished with two tackles for a loss, Harmeyer added one and Birrell had a pass breakup.
AYE, AYE CAPTAIN — Acalanes’ captains for the second game were Eli Cooley, Wesley Boxerman, Massimo Cangini and Rocco Coniglio.
SCOUT PLAYER OF THE WEEK — No. 13 Max Visnick
NEXT GAME — Acalanes returns to action against St. Ignatius College Preparatory at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13 at J.B. Murphy Field in San Francisco. The Wildcats won their opener over Redwood 14-6 on Aug. 27, but lost to Marin Catholic 14-6 on Sept. 3. Last season, Acalanes beat St. Ignatius 19-6.