You never know for sure how an Acalanes freshman football team will perform in the first scrimmage. It’s tackle football, it’s intense, and most kids in Lafayette have never done this before. Add to this, an opponent from Granada High School in Livermore who has experienced tackle football players. Not an easy task.

Well, according to Coach Bill Hansen, the scrimmage went great and he is proud of the work the players have put in to get to this point. Time to get the season started!

The team hinges on the play of its offensive and defensive lines. On offense, ELI LAIRD, DREW MCKENZIE, ANDREW TRESSER, JADEN McCLANE and JAKE YOSHINAKA were consistently able to get downfield in the scrimmage to make blocks.

Dual threat quarterback DAVID GONZALES was impressive both throwing and running the ball. GONZALES hit burly wide receiver ALEK ADOLPHSON over the middle on the first drive and he bounced off a few tacklers for a big gain. Later in the drive NIKO WHITE scored the Dons first touchdown of the year. And it will not be his last. The creativity of offensive coach Buddy Rowell and the speed and toughness of WHITE is a killer combination.

Running back KEEGAN GODDARD added to the mix with a long touchdown run and running back IAN SALMON broke some long runs late in the game.

On defense for the Dons, linebackers DAVID ROUX and JAKE YOSHINAKA stepped up with some hard hitting tackles. And no one is going to run through 6’3” 210 lb JADEN McCLANE at nose guard. In the secondary, BRODY DARIN along with WHITE and GODDARD made some nice tackles. DARIN also had a touchdown reception at wide receiver.

Coach Hansen also noted the play of LUCA PREMA, HENRY FINEGOLD, DREW HANSEN, BRENDAN MILES, JONAH RIVERA, ZAC HERRERIAS, TYLER KIM and JAKE MEGIBOW, along with the development of JAKE CLACO at quarterback.

It’s a short week for the Dons as they host the Dons from Amador Valley Wednesday night, August 25th at 5:30 pm, in their first game of the season.