Paul's Article

Everything seemed to start the same. Amateur burgers roasted in the tailgate corner, the parking lot filled quickly, and administrators roamed the premises for fans with a little too much “spirit”.

Yet as the Friday night-lights began to warm up yet again, something seemed to be different. Although it was clearly not the cheerleaders that seemed to develop only in numbers, I couldn’t put my finger on just one thing.

But of all traits, the Dons certainly weren’t lacking confidence. “Of course we will beat them,” said junior cornerback Logan Quinn.

“It will be a fight, but we will pull through,” added first year starting wide receiver, senior Robert Mull.

And then the kickoff came. As the Justin Siena Braves set off on their 66 yard drive to open the game, it became easier and easier to put down that finger. Because graduated all-league lineman Brian Garthwaite was no longer around, the finger at first landed somewhere on the defensive line. Getting off easy, the Dons only gave up a 16-yard field goal to the Braves.

On their ensuing drive, the green quarterback, sophomore Tyler Caldwell appeared to be holding his own. However, what most didn’t realize is that the phenom half back, Tyler Malley was holding his own, as well as some for Caldwell. Breaking open his usual runs, Malley capped off the Dons opening drive as well as the first quarter with a 1-yard TD run.

Again however, Justin Siena marched behind star running back Reed Francis all the way down to the Acalanes goal line. In a moment of glory for the Dons’ dwarfed defensive line, Acalanes came up with a goal line stop and took over on downs.

And now time for the true test of the Dons. Although it seemed something remained to be missing, a tinge of hope lingered in the air. Yet after moving all of four yards in two minutes, that unforgiving finger came down like a malevolent seven year old squashing a straggling ant.

The Dons most obviously lacked the leadership and ability of the East Bay’s best duo: Brooks Baker and Robbie Pestal. Having graduated the stars, Acalanes attempted, in vain, to air out the ball and post a heroic early season drive.

Although a brief silver lining soon shimmered with a sack and forced fumble, the Dons offense remained stagnant for much of the second quarter. After Acalanes gave up the ball on two consecutive possessions, the Brave’s Francis broke open a 40-yard run, leading to a Justin Siena touchdown and a Don deficit.

“[Francis] was fast and we just couldn’t get a hand on him,” said Quinn. “He ran at will all night.

On the ensuing possession, senior wide receive Jesse Weiner returned the kickoff for 25 yards, lifting the finger and breathing momentary life into the Dons. However, Caldwell then threw an interception to end the half as well as the chances of any momentum.

In the third, the Braves added to their running game with several conversions by quarterback (Eddy) Wyatt. Capping off the story of their offense, Francis converted for another touchdown, ending the third quarter with a score of 7-16.

Without an established leader or any confidence in their offense Acalanes found themselves in a bit of a pickle to say the least. Opening the fourth, Caldwell overthrew pass after pass, and the Dons continued to give up the ball on downs. As Francis continued to exploit the Acalanes defense, it looked as though the game could end early.

However, after a Brave touchdown that pushed the score to 7-22, Malley finally decided to act for his team and ran 90 yards off the kickoff for a touchdown. Nonetheless, Justin Sienna was not phased and continued to press their running game, converting again with seven minutes left to push their lead to 13-28.

The final seven minutes played out with much of the same. Caldwell continued to overthrow and was even rewarded with a few eye-opening sacks.

“[Caldwell] has stepped up and has shown to be the great QB we were looking for,” said Mull. “He has shown to be a team leader and makes smart plays on the field and protects the ball.”

Well not tonight, rook. Culminating in his third interception of the night, Mull may have spoken too soon about the green quarterback.

As the Dons static offense came to an inevitable stop, and the Brave’s dynamic running game continued to press that finger, Acalanes only lifted their heads to see a losing score of 13-36.

And justification for their shortcomings?

“We have a tendency to let teams come back into the games when we should've closed it out way before that time,” said Quinn.

Well at least from the view of the same hardhearted seven year old, the Dons let up as soon as the opening whistle blew. Although a young team, there are high expectations.

And seeing as the star-studded cast of seasons past will only return in dreams of head coach Randy Takahaski, this young squad needs to play together and establish a leader to rally behind.

Until then, the finger will continue to loom above.

Finger ideas- for the in the third paragraph, in last sentence could say, the transformation from finger to fist was begining to assert itself, or that the dons were being poked fun at their own field.

Dons static offense paragraph- the brave's dynamic running game seemed less like a malevolent finger and more like (the fist of kimbo slice) (a muay thai elbow) (that punch that doesnt knock out, but turns the legs to jelly) (a hand clamping down on the Dons' windpipe) or something like the score seemed to reflect something more along the lines of a severe eye gouging than a wagging finger.