By DON DELCO

LAFAYETTE, Calif. — Three third-quarter touchdowns, including two within 35 seconds of each other, keyed the Acalanes freshman football team to win 27-0 over College Park on Thursday, Sept. 17.

It was the Dons’ first game at Acalanes Stadium this season and their second victory in five days to improve to 2-2 while College Park falls to 1-2. After losing the season’s first two games by a combined score 63-2, Acalanes has outscored its last two opponents 50-6.

“From day one when these boys walked into summer camp to where they finished that game, it’s a completely different group,” Acalanes coach Dana Hemmingsen said. “Those first two games were an investment in learning and the message to kids is what good teams do at any level is fix stuff and that’s what they’ve been doing.”

Nursing a 6-0 lead midway through the third quarter, Acalanes offense faced a third-and-14 from the College Park 27-yard line. Quarterback Eli Cooley dropped back and noticed wide receiver Trey Renno with 1-on-1 coverage on the outside. The two connected on a 27-yard touchdown pass to extend the Dons’ lead to 13-0.

“This isn’t Eli’s first year playing tackle football,” Hemmingsen said. “You can see his poise back there for a young quarterback. That touchdown on third-and-long was defeating for (College Park).”

College Park started the ensuing drive at its own 22. On second-and-12 from the 20-yard line, the Falcons called a screen pass. Acalanes’ Dylan Andersen recognized the play and dropped back to intercept the pass from College Park quarterback Sean Boles at the Falcons’ 6-yard line. After an offsides penalty on College Park on first down, Acalanes running back Tate Foster scored on a 3-yard touchdown run. The point after attempt by Nico Beuchotte grew the Dons’ lead to 20-0 with 4:56 left in the third quarter.

“Ultimately for me it’s about getting that momentum,” Hemmingsen said. “At that point we absolutely got it and College Park knew they were done.”

Then, with 1:43 left in the quarter, College Park lined up to punt from its own 35-yard line. Andersen blocked the punt and fell on the ball at the Falcons’ 30-yard line. On the next play from scrimmage, Dons’ quarterback James McCallister connected with Caelen Birrell on a 30-yard touchdown pass. Birrell caught the pass on a short out route before sprinting down the sidelines to the end zone, extending Acalanes’ lead to 27-0 with 78 seconds remaining in the third.

Birrell had two catches for 49 yards while Renno also had two grabs for 46 yards. Foster rushed 14 times for 48 yards and two touchdowns including a 22-yard score with 2:36 left in the first quarter. The game’s first touchdown was set up thanks to a fumble recovery by Birrell. Acalanes forced a season-high five turnovers while committing only one.

College Park struggled offensively thanks to those turnovers, but also its poor field position. The Falcons ran only nine of its 57 offensive plays from scrimmage in Acalanes’ territory. Meanwhile, eight of Acalanes’ 10 offensive possessions began in College Park territory with an average starting position at the Falcons’ 35-yard line.

“Our special teams, which coach Vim (Keosian) does coordinate, coupled with how our defense is playing puts us in a good spot in terms of field position,” Hemmingsen said. “(College Park) had a good pressure package up front and it was more than our offensive line has seen all season. It was frustrating only being up 6-0 at halftime, but coach (Sal) Coniglio got those guys up front dialed in. Between that and Coach Vim calling plays, I knew it would work out.”

The Dons’ defense held its opponent to less than three rushing yards a carry for the second straight game. College Park had 80 yards on the ground on 28 attempts, led by Landon Brooks’ 37 yards on six carries. Boles finished 10-for-23 passing for 81 yards and one interception.

Andersen added to his interception and blocked punt with three tackles for a loss, defensive end Luca Delco had two tackles for a loss and a sack and defensive end Massimo Cangini and defensive tackle Damian Gomez had one tackle for a loss each. Defensive backs Birrell and Beckett Mason finished with an interception while Jovani Bordi added a fumble recovery.

“The defense was pretty darn sound again,” Hemmingsen said. “A lot of fun was had.”

FIFTH QUARTER — Acalanes played its first fifth quarter of the season. According to Hemmingsen, this is intended to support player development and is conducted as a scrimmage in a more controlled manner.

Acalanes started on offense and on the third play from scrimmage from the College Park 40-yard line, Renno, playing quarterback, threw it deep to Connor Lederman. The pass was tipped by College Park defender Cruz Barrios before falling into the arms of Lederman who then ran into the endzone for the Dons’ only touchdown in the extra session.

On defense, Hudson Ciccio made a touchdown-saving tackle at the 2-yard line and had a pass break up. On the final play, Acalanes’ defensive end Lachlan Kalberg knocked the arm of the Falcons’ quarterback Vincent Batchelder as the pass floated to Dons’ linebacker A.J. Jeffery for an interception.

“Shout out to the scout team players,” Hemmingsen said. “High school football is very competitive, even at the freshman level. We have to go out and compete. For me, it’s a delicate balance between competing and developing players. College Park has class act coaches and I’m glad they agreed to the fifth quarter.”

GAME CAPTAINS — Turner Deane, Luca Delco, Damian Gomez and Trey Renno

SCOUT TEAM PLAYER OF THE WEEK — No. 27 Nico Beuchotte

NEXT GAME — Acalanes is back on the road at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 against Granada. The Matadors are coming off a bye week after winning their first three games of the season over Campolindo (35-7 on Aug. 27), Miramonte (49-8 on Sept. 3) and Vacaville (48-0 on Sept. 10). Last season, Granada beat Acalanes 12-7.