By Tommy Fellner //
The Acalanes Football team (2-5) lost the annual Homecoming game this year to DFAL opponent Dougherty Valley, 34-7.
After yielding no points on their first two drives of the game, it looked as if the Dons could take control with the first score of the game. Senior Leo Barakos rushed for a touchdown with three minutes left in the first quarter and Bryan Bamford converted the PAT to put Acalanes up 7-0.
In the second quarter Dougherty Valley finally got one past the Acalanes defense and evened the score at 7 apiece with 4:48 left in the second quarter.
The Wildcats then forced a 3 and out on Acalanes’ next drive and blocked senior Jake Berry’s punt and recovered the ball with great field position.
Then the Wildcats struck again scoring just before the half to put themselves up 14-7.
In the second half it was all Wildcats. Backed by their strong running game, the Wildcats were the first to score in the second half but missed the PAT to only go up 20-7.
Acalanes then led a strong drive down to the Wildcats’ 30 yard line, but a Berry interception in the red zone gave Dougherty Valley back the ball and 1:48 to go in the third.
Dougherty Valley’s next drive only took two minutes and they found the back of the endzone again. This time the Wildcats opted for the 2 point conversion and punched it in to go up 28-7 with 11 minutes left in the fourth.
Acalanes had another unsuccessful drive and turned the ball over to the Wildcats. Dougherty Valley marched down the field again and scored with 4:11 left but missed the PAT to make the score 34-7.
The Dons will have to shake this one off and get ready for their rivalry match against Miramonte next week.