JV Flag Football closed out its second season with a statement win. The week opened with a spirited Blue vs. White intra-squad matchup — a stand‑in for a forfeited game — that fittingly ended in a tie, proof of the depth and balance across the roster. With momentum building, the JV Dons turned their focus to their final opponent of the season, the team from Moraga.
On Wednesday, team captains Daphne Hwang, Norah Taylor, and Julia Polson Flanagin took the field for the final coin toss of the season. Dons ball — and the fireworks started immediately. On the second play of the opening drive, quarterback Grace Natal hit Clara Sargent, who sprinted untouched to the end zone. Dons up 6–0.
The defense followed with a statement of its own, stonewalling the Cougars on their first possession. Then came the play of the night: Natal launched a 35‑yard spiral to Dheliya Guiro, who turned on the jets for a 10‑yard finish. Point after good. Dons 13–0.
The Cougars tried to settle in, but relentless pressure — Ximena Espinosa’s flag pulls, pass breakups from Morgan McIlvaine and Guiro, and a clutch interception by Norah Taylor — kept them rattled. The Cougars finally broke through, trimming the lead to 13–7, but the Dons answered. Natal connected with Margaret Stirling, who weaved past multiple defenders to push the score to 20–7 at halftime.
The second half belonged entirely to the Dons defense. The Cougars never found the end zone again. Stirling added another interception to her resume to set up the Dons’ tenth possession, where Natal hit the reliable hands of Nina Salazar on back‑to‑back gains before Guiro blasted into the end zone once more. Dons 26–7.
With time winding down, the Dons still weren’t finished. Emi Tippett’s timely pull and Kaylee Clayton’s deflection set up one final scoring drive. Ivana Adolphson took command at QB, connecting with Zoey Schweifler and Giuliana Bishop, setting up run plays by Eva Collison and Tippett before ripping off her own 15‑yard touchdown run. Adolphson followed it with a successful extra‑point pass to Bishop.
Angel Espinosa led the defense on the night with 6 pulls, followed by Clara Sargent (4 pulls, 1 pass breakup), Emi Tippett and Daphne Hwang (3 each), Guiro (2 pulls, 3 PBUs), and Amber Qin (2 pulls).
Final: Dons 33–7.
Under Head Coach Bob Sverak and Assistant Coaches Phil Mannoni, Jim Malmquist, Diane Miller, and Kenny Widmann, the JV Dons close the season at 10–4, capping a year of growth, grit, and highlight‑reel moments. With two seasons now complete, Acalanes JV Flag Football looks poised for an even bigger future in one of the fastest‑growing sports in the country.
Cheer on the Varsity Flag Football team as they head into postseason action on Wednesday 7pm at home with the first round of NCS Playoffs.
