The Northgate Broncos moseyed into town on a cool, Wednesday evening, with visions of outgunning the Dons in a showdown of perennial Diablo Athletic League front runners. Despite Northgate’s 2-6 record, the Broncos have played very close games this year against top level competition, barely losing to undefeated College Park and holding D1 NCS champions San Ramon Valley to 13 points.
The first quarter was mostly quiet until Senior Yali Avrahami had the play of the quarter. Avrahami snagged a short pass from quarter back Stella Beuchotte and streaked through Northgate defenders for 40 yards before the defense pulled her flag…and everything else! The holding penalty added 10 yards to the play, placing the Dons deep in the Broncos corral. The Dons could not capitalize and had a turnover in the endzone. The Dons second drive, which spanned the end of the first and first part of the second quarters, saw the offense establish a potent running attack complimented by an excellent short passing game. Junior tailback Isabelle Agnost was gaining 5-10 yards per rush. Beuchotte distributed the ball nicely hitting stellar wideouts Avery DeMent and Ines Coyne for completions. However, the Broncos cinched up their holsters and held strong, keeping the Dons out of the endzone on the drive.
The Dons would break through the barb wire on their third drive of the game. Beuchotte continued to distribute the ball to multiple receivers. Beuchotte found Prime Time June Natal for 5 and hit Coyne streaking across the middle for 14. Agnost broke off a chunk play, shredding the Broncos chaps for 20 yards setting up a beautiful touchdown pass from Beuchotte to Coyne. Beuchotte dropped back and fired an in-stride strike to Coyne, who had lined up in the slot on the left side. Coyne flashed across the middle of the field, leaving defenders in her wake, turned the corner and zipped up the sideline for the 15 yard score. The Dons would take the 6-0 lead into the half.
The Dons struck again to start the 3rd quarter as Beuchotte continued to involve multiple receivers in the offense. Beuchotte threw a dot to wideout Mira Clark for 10 yards before finding Coyne again for 20 more. The Broncos could not stop Coyne legally so a holding penalty added 10 yards to the play. Beuchotte found Coyne again for 10 more before handing the ball off to Agnost for as spectacular a 15 yard run as you will ever see. This intrepid reporter believes the play was supposed to go to the near side but, after a series of side steps and teleportations, Agnost found herself racing all the way back across the field to the far side, turning the corner, and blasting into the endzone for the highlight reel touchdown. The Dons lead now stood at 12-0.
As I mentioned in the beginning, the Broncos are a tough team with a tradition of success. They were not daunted by the Dons 2 touchdown lead. On their very next possession, with the help of two costly penalties against the Dons, the Broncos were able to punch it in for the score and make the point after attempt to close the gap to 12-7. Simply put, a touchdown would win it for the Broncos.
The clock continued to tick down in the 4th quarter and with every passing second the pressure grew. Now, what happened next will surely be one of the most discussed and argued over plays for decades to come. Some say the Dons got lucky, others that the Dons used next level strategy and gamesmanship to clinch the win. We may never know. I can only tell you what I saw. On a critical third down it appeared that the Dons changed the snap count, or did they? Who knows?!! What I do know is that after a brief and bizarre hesitation, Beuchotte alertly found Agnost for a short completion over the middle. Did I say short completion? What I meant to say was that Agnost caught the ball, streaked towards the sideline, turned up field, wove threw defenders like they were on roller skates, turned on the warp drive, split the remaining two defenders like thread through a needle and with arms held out wide broke the plane of the endzone for the 40 yard score to seal the win. Just like the coaches drew it up.
With the score now 18-7 and very little time on the clock the Broncos hopes looked dim. Linebacker Avery DeMent decided that it was time to say good night to the Broncos by picking off a pass in the near flat. The Dons kneeled on the ball and took the win. Next up for the Dons is an away game at Berean Christian on Monday afternoon. See you in the stands. Go Dons!