| | Published October 10th, 2012
| Football Rivalry Games Conclude
| | By Michael Sakoda |  | | Miramonte split the rivalry series, losing to Campolindo 34-13 before defeating Acalanes 21-14.
Photo Karen Drinkwater
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Two weeks, two big match ups for Lamorinda high school football. On September 28, Miramonte played host to the Cougars of Campolindo. Then, last Friday, the Mats traveled to play the Dons.
In their first rivalry match, the Mats were trying to right the ship after starting out 2-3, and Campolindo coach Kevin Macy was hoping for a strong showing, but also noted that the coaching staff isn't pressuring the young team to repeat as NCS champions.
"It's really too much to ask a brand new group of kids to try to measure up to last year's team," he explained.
The Cougars continued their winning ways, defeating Miramonte 35-13, and improving to 5-1 on the year. Macy was pleased with the effort. "What was really nice...was how well our defense played," he said.
On October 5, while Campolindo had a bye, Miramonte took on the Dons. Head coach Jack Schram summed up Miramonte's perspective heading into the game. "We can't lose anymore," he simply stated.
The Mats stormed out of the gate, scoring a touchdown within the first two minutes of play.
Later in the quarter, the Dons tried to counter with a drive that started on their own 25-yard line. A big pass play from junior quarterback Robbie Stern to senior Brendan O'Donnell, and good rushing from junior running back Peter Mitchell and senior running back Deshawn Johnson, brought Acalanes all the way down the field to the 11-yard line. The Dons went to Johnson on both third and fourth down, but Miramonte stopped the rush.
Miramonte scored on the following drive, which spanned the first and second quarters and covered 93 yards of turf. The key play came when senior quarterback Nick Sheehan completed a 47- yard pass to senior wide receiver Marshall Deutz, bringing them to Acalanes' 35-yard line. A few plays later, Sheehan ran the ball in on third and goal from the 3-yard line, putting the Mats up 14-0 heading into halftime.
In the third quarter, an Acalanes drive ended with an interception by junior linebacker Jonathan McDonald. Miramonte started another drive deep in their own territory. On third and 4, from the 14-yard line, Sheehan completed another pass to Deutz, who ran the length of the field, putting the Matadors up 21-0.
Acalanes responded late, capping an 80-yard drive with a rushing touchdown from Johnson. The score was 21-7, when time expired in the third.
The fourth quarter began with a failed onside kick attempt from the Dons. Miramonte started the drive from the Dons' 42-yard line, but senior linebacker Aaron Edwards intercepted a pass moments later, giving the ball back to Acalanes.
The Dons continued to ride running back Johnson's monster night, and found themselves inside the red zone. But on second and goal, Miramonte's Ray Clark, a junior defensive back, intercepted a pass in the end zone.
After forcing a turnover on downs, Acalanes took over from the 19-yard line. Stern led a drive capped with a throw into double-coverage for senior wide receiver Steve Main who leapt over the defenders, making a tremendous touchdown catch, but with only eight seconds left to play the Dons were still down 14-21.
As the bleachers began to empty, the Dons' onside kick was recovered. The fans erupted as Mitchell ran it back to Miramonte's 48-yard line. Acalanes made two attempts to get into the end zone, but Miramonte's pass coverage was excellent, earning them a 21-14 victory.
After the win, Schram said they knew what they had to do in this game.
"We couldn't go 0-3 in the league, then 2-5 overall, and then struggle to get to .500 just to make the playoffs," he explained. "We just have to go out there every week and play...let defense set the tone."
It was another tough loss for the Dons who battled to take a late lead against Campolindo on September 21, only to lose by 1 when Brett Stephens, Campolindo's senior quarterback, rushed for a touchdown as time expired.
Dons head coach Mike Ivankovich looked at the positives for his team. "We were in such a deep hole when it became 21-0. I'm really happy that our team found the will to continue to fight," he said, "We put ourselves in a position to win...just ran out of time."
On October 12, the Cougars host Las Lomas and the Dons travel to Dougherty Valley who will face Miramonte, after their bye week, on October 19.
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 | | Deshawn Johnson #26
Photo Kevin Nguyen
|  | | Photo Karen Drinkwater
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA