By Aaron Vaserman & Mason Archer, Staff Writers
// The Acalanes faithful packed the stadium to watch the Dons defeat visiting Berkeley 57-28 on Friday, Sept. 13.
Acalanes received the opening kickoff, but their first possession resulted in a punt.
Berkeley’s first drive also stalled, and the Yellowjackets punted back to the Dons at the 25 yard line. Acalanes methodically drove the ball down the field until Delaney broke through on a 35-yard touchdown run for the first score of the contest.
The stout Dons defense stopped Berkeley again, and Acalanes got the ball back with a little less than two minutes left in the first quarter. Unfortunately, junior quarterback Brady Huchingson fumbled the ball plays later, and Berkeley recovered the ball for a touchdown, evening the score at 7.
Acalanes received the ball with one minute left in the first quarter and Delaney took it to the house yet again for a 65 yard rushing touchdown to put the Dons up 14-7. The ground game exploded after largely being held in check last week.
“Make one move and go, better to go north and south rather than east and west,” Delaney said of his success in the running game.
Berkeley returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards to even the score at 14 to complete the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, junior quarterback Brady Huchingson connected with senior wide receiver Lucas Eppinger for a 69 yard touchdown pass. A balanced attack was key to the offensive clinic.
“Our game plan this week was to run the ball and that opened up the passing game which helped us find the holes in their defense,” Huchingson said.
An interception by senior Luke Miles set up a short rushing touchdown from
Huchingson to put the Dons up two touchdowns.
lBerkeley answered with a long passing touchdown to stay within one score. Huchingson responded with his second rushing touchdown and put the Dons up 36-21 at the half.
Berkeley came out of the locker room aggressive, cutting the Dons lead to eight with a long passing touchdown. It was all Acalanes from there, though, as Delaney scored again from 17 yards out to add to the lead.
Going into the fourth up 43-28, the Dons put Berkeley away with a second Huchingson to Eppinger hookup and Delaney adding his fourth rushing touchdown of the night.
The Dons offense put on a fabulous display, as Huchingson threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two more, while Delaney finished with 171 yards on the ground and four scores.
Acalanes travels to El Cerrito this Friday, looking to avenge a heartbreaking loss last year. Preparation and improvements in the less flashy areas will be crucial to success.
“We just need to continue to find weaknesses in the other teams’ defense and we need to work on our special teams so we can control the game on all sides of the ball,” Huchingson said.