The Acalanes Dons continued their early-season dominance by dismantling Menlo Atherton 41-13 on the road. They remain undefeated at 2-0 thanks to a suffocating defensive performance that carried them through a penalty-filled opening quarter.

For the second consecutive week, the Dons fell behind early, allowing Menlo Atherton to score first and take a 6-0 lead. But also for the second consecutive week, the Dons’ response was swift and overwhelming.

Senior Quarterback Tyler Winkles orchestrated the comeback with surgical accuracy, completing 21 of 32 passes for 230 yards and 4 touchdowns. Winkles spread the ball to nine different receivers, with serviceable rhythm throughout the night. On the season, the all-conference quarterback has thrown for 573 yards and 9 touchdowns.

Senior Grant Condy, returning from an injury that caused him to miss the season opener, made an immediate impact with multiple catches in the first quarter and added a touchdown reception with just 18 seconds remaining in the first half. Condy showcased his reliable hands and field presence all night, finishing with 5 catches for 61 yards and 1 touchdown.

Junior running back Joaquin Bordi was a dominant force on the ground, carrying the ball 17 times for 75 yards while punching in an 18-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. His slashing style and ability to create explosive gains kept the Bears defense on its heels throughout the contest.

In addition to a renewed running game, the senior wideouts were unstoppable. Jackson Boselli provided the signature moment of the first half with a perfectly thrown 47-yard touchdown reception down the left sideline, showcasing Winkles’ golden arm and pinpoint accuracy.

Finley Rivera was also instrumental in keeping the Menlo Atherton Bears off balance the entire game. Rivera was routinely open in the flat and out routes, showcasing his deft hands, field presence, and lightning speed while turning corners on his way to 7 catches for 67 yards and a touchdown. AJ DelSanto did the hard work, picking up tough yards and notching 6 catches for 39 yards and a touchdown. 

Junior Finn Aiken, Junior Sean Tandler, junior Pedro Sakaguti, junior Santi Felix, and sophomore Jake Mikalis all contributed timely catches throughout the game, highlighting the Don’s bright future at the wideout spot. The five players combined for 7 catches, 125 yards and 1 touchdown.

After two games, DelSanto leads the team with 16 total receptions and Rivera leads with 166 total yards. Boselli and Rivera are tied with the team touchdown lead with 3 each.

The Dons took a commanding 34-13 lead into halftime and handed the ball off to their defense who took control of the game. The second half was a clinic in defensive football, allowing no scoring while the Winkles and the offensive attack to work on time management and control.

Linebacker Luke Dafferner was seemingly everywhere, making key tackles throughout the contest. Alex Schwarz added a crucial interception in the second half to shut down a Bears drive, and the defensive line dominated the line of scrimmage, forcing bad snaps, creating tackles for loss, and yielding zero points after halftime. Standouts include Sean Tandler, Daniel Dunne, Cash Ricker, Justin Davis, Dax Vail, Kyle Sanftner, Jake O’Brien, Mason Anderson, Aiden Jeffrey and Finley Rivera. 

In one particular play towards the end of the game, Junior defensive back Max Volpian read a screen pass perfectly and laid a huge hit on the wide receiver. The hit sent a message that despite being up by 21 points, there is no quit on this team.

This defense worked together all night to stymie Menlo-Atherton’s attack, denying the home team a chance at a sustained drive. 

Backup quarterback Nate Lederman entered in the fourth quarter to give Winkles and the starters a well-deserved rest. The junior proved efficient in limited action, completing 5 of 7 passes for 109 yards and one touchdown, including a dart at the end of the game to Finn Aiken. It was a thing of beauty.

The underclassmen continue to contribute. Lineman Aiden Jeffrey, wide receiver Jake Mikalis, and kicker Jonny Rubin all showed up. Jeffrey plugged up the run game with multiple tackles. Mikalis hauled in his only target for a 35 yard catch. Rubin continued to notch extra points, going 5 for 6 on attempts. 

The undefeated Dons take on St. Ignatius on Sept. 11 at 7pm in their home opener. #Feartheblue