Miramonte may have thought the Acalanes JV Dons only brought 14 players to their clash last Saturday afternoon at Miramonte, but what they didn’t know is that the Dons brought more soldiers to the field that day. Down eight starters because of a school district close contact ruling, the Dons banded together and beat the odds to prevail over a full squad of 30 Matadors, 14-6.

Not only were the Dons down to 14 players, but they had many playing in positions that they had never played before, including QB Mason Michlitsch, Center Tyler Worthington, CB Nathan Bennett, FS Grant Eubanks, P Ben Foox, and MLBs Max Thomas and Nathan Kim. The one saving grace for the Dons was the stability of the offensive and defensive lines, with Tyler the only new addition at Center. To the casual fan, it is hard to see or appreciate the work of the boys in the trenches, but like a finely tuned sports car, it’s the O-line engine that makes the offense go. The Dons’ engine of Marcus Julian, Victor Nicolacakis, Tyler Worthington, Nathan Kim, and Zach Robb, did what they’ve done over the past two weeks, move bodies and open holes, even though the Mats knew the Dons were going to run the ball. If the O-line was the engine, RB Ben Foox was the wheels, spinning and churning through the Miramonte defense for 34 yards, a TD, and a 2-point conversion.

But it took more than muscle to keep this car on the road, first time QB Mason Michlitsch was a steady hand steering the offense. Keeping the Dons moving forward despite a couple of fumbles causing some bumps in the road.

On the other side of the ball, the Don’s defense was no less critical on Saturday, holding Miramonte to only 6 points, with 13 different Dons having at least one tackle, 4 with TFLs, two sacks (Zach Robb and Ben Foox) and two interceptions (Mason Michlitsch and Nathan Bennett). Leading tacklers included LB Max Thomas with 6 solo/4 assists, Mason Michlitsch with 3 solo/3 assists, and Tyler Worthington with 3 solo/2 assists.

The game started with the return of Zach Murdin to kicking duties, coming back to help the short-handed Dons with a cast on his broken hand. Starting on the 30, the Mats tried to run right and were stymied for no gain by LB Nathan Kim. They tried running again on 2^nd only to be stopped after 2 yards by Conner Spellman & Tyler Worthington. On 3^rd and 8, Miramonte tried to go to the air, but pressure by DE Marcus Julian caused a floated pass that was easily knocked down by CB Nathan Bennett to force the Mats to punt the ball to Acalanes. The new Dons offense started quickly with an inside run gaining 8 yards on first down, but an illegal procedure penalty pushed them back and they were unable to get a first down so the ball went back to Miramonte. A face mask penalty (the first of several called on the day), gave the Mats a quick first down, but two short gains stopped by Conner and Max, left Miramonte with a 3^rd and 4. After failing to run for a first, the Mats looked to pass but NT Zach Robb blasted through the middle to sack the Miramonte QB for a 15-yard loss and another change of possession.

After receiving the ball back, the Dons were still looking for their footing on offense. A mishandled hand-off and a dropped pass resulted in a three and out, and the Dons found themselves back on the defense. After finding little early success in the run game, the Mats turned to the pass, testing the Dons DBs down the field after a short run on first. On second down, DB Grant Eubanks and LB Max Thomas shut down the Mats WRs, and on third Grant broke up another attempt to force a fourth and long. Possibly shook by how hard the depleted Dons were fighting, the Matadors committed not one but two illegal procedure penalties, which pushed them further back towards their own end zone. After they finally got a clean play, a bad snap forced the punter to scramble right into the waiting arms of Ben Foox, giving the Dons the ball deep in the red zone. The Dons wasted no time in pressing the issue, Foox ran power 36 up the middle to the one, and on the very next play, bowled over a Mat linebacker into the end zone for the first score. The heavy formation was in for the two-point conversion but came up just a few inches short, and it was Dons 6, Mats 0.

Miramonte’s next possession started like the others. Conner stopped a run for a short gain, Tyler got a sack on second, and after a short pass came up a yard short on third, Miramonte was faced with a 4^th and one. The Mats weren’t going to go away quietly though, and they took a chance and managed to squeak out a first on 4^th down. With the half coming close to an end, the Dons started to tire, and the next Matador ball carrier broke free for a long gain to the Acalanes 30. A questionable facemask call added 15 additional yards and now the Matadors were knocking at the door. After two short runs, the Mats QB found a receiver open in the middle and he was able to sprint into the end zone to tie the score. The Dons defense rallied on the XP attempt with Ben, Zach, Max and Marcus stoning the Mat RB at the line to keep the score a tie, 6-6, and that’s how the first half ended.

Acalanes started the second half with the ball but was unable to gain a first down. After receiving the punt, Miramonte looked to the air once again. A 20-yard pass got the Mats started, but on the very next play Tyler sacked the QB for no gain. On 2^nd and 10, Miramonte benefitted from a broken play as a fumbled exchange was picked up resulting in a mad scramble and long pass which was caught one handed 30 yards down field. The Matadors now had a first and ten on the Dons 19 and looked to be in business. An illegal procedure penalty pushed the Mats back five, which they got back with a short run to make it 2^nd and 10 on the 19. With their backs against the wall, and Miramonte threatening the score, the Dons needed someone to make a play, and CB Nathan Bennett was up to the challenge. The Miramonte plan was to run two WRs on slant routes to try and clear out the Dons DBs for a swing route to the RB, but Nathan was too smart for that. He sniffed out the play, broke off of covering the WR, stepped in front of the RB and was off to the races. Eighty-one yards later, he completed the pick six to put the Dons back into the lead.

With a six-point advantage, the XP was critical to make sure that one score wouldn’t beat the Dons. Once again, they relied on the heavy formation and this time wouldn’t be denied with Ben and the rest of the line shoving the Matadors back into their own end zone to complete the two-point conversion. Dons 14, Matadors 6.

There was still a lot of time left in the game, and Miramonte wasn’t going away. After a couple of runs gained two first downs and movement into Acalanes territory, the Dons defense stiffened again. Max and Nathan Kim stopped a run for short gain. Ben and Marcus pressured the QB on 2^nd and Max met the WR at the ball, ensuring the incompletion. More pressure on 3^rd down from Marcus, Zach and Conner, resulted in an intentional grounding penalty and the Dons got the ball back to start the 4^th quarter. Now trailing in the 4^th, the Matadors were starting to get desperate. They loaded up the box with eight and nine players and began to run blitz regularly. After a six-yard run by Ellis, another Dons fumble put the onus on the defense once again. A Mats holding penalty put them into a 1^st and 20 hole, and on the very next play LB Landon Best-Santos broke up a bubble screen for no gain. A completed pass for 8, resulted in a 3 and 12 for Miramonte, and the QB was starting to get some rhythm. It was up to the D to start pressing the Mat QB and press they did. Marcus and Tyler pushed the pocket back into his lap and forced an incompletion on 3^rd, and now it was 4^th down. Dropping back to pass again, Zach forced a quick short throw and Mason made sure the WR was stopped short, giving the ball back to the Dons. Nothing would be easy for Acalanes though, and another fumbled exchange gave the ball right back to the Mats in Don’s territory.

The war of attrition was taking its toll, and the Mats started moving the ball on the ground. Two runs of 9 and 5 yards, netted a first down, and Miramonte was getting close to tying the score. The coaches saw what was happening and quickly shifted to the four-man defensive front that had worked so well against Campolindo. With Tyler, Zach, Marcus and Conner manning the line, the Dons stuffed the next run for no gain. Left without the run option, the Mats returned to the air and paid the price with Zach and Marcus forcing a rushed pass that Mason picked off in the end zone. The ball was now back in the Don’s hands with time running short and Miramonte in desperation mode. With nine in the box to stop them, the Dons buckled down and pressed forward. A ten-yard Ben Foox burst gained a first down, but three plays later the Dons were forced to punt with a less than a minute left. A great Foox punt, rolled back to the Matador 37, and it was from there they would have their last chance. After spiking the ball on first down to stop the clock, Miramonte attempted a quick behind the line pass, which most likely would have led to another pass, but Landon would have none of it, sacking the Mat running back in the backfield to run out the clock and end the game. Final score, Dons 14, Matadors 6.

Next week last game vs California. Go Dons!

Witten by Jeff Julian, proud JV Don Parent