WALNUT CREEK – Every Acalanes defender on the field and each Don stuck watching on the sideline stood perfectly still as Campolindo’s 41-yard field goal attempt cut through the frigid East Bay air Friday night.
“Time seemed to slow down at that point, and at first I thought it was going in,” Acalanes running back Josh Elerts said.
Even as it touched the ground with zeroes showing on the clock, not a soul from the Lafayette program dared to move, frozen in place until the officials signaled “no good.”
Jubilant players jumped into the arms of their ecstatic classmates and joyous family members rushing the field as the Dons celebrated a thrilling 20-17 victory to capture the North Coast Section Division III title at Las Lomas High School.
“Oh my gosh, this feels so amazing,” lineman Bethel Imasuen said. “I didn’t think we’d make it this far.”
The victory moves Acalanes into the NorCal regionals for the second year in a row. Matchups will be announced Sunday.
Campolindo proved to be a worthy foe — but once again not unbeatable.
Acalanes had already beaten the Cougars in the regular season 21-12 to snap a four-game losing streak to Campolindo, and the championship rematch proved that the earlier victory was no fluke.
“This sets a precedent, especially for the younger guys coming up, that this isn’t a team that we just lose to every year,” said Elerts, who ran for 146 yards on 28 carries. “This is a team we can beat.”
Quarterback Tyler Winkles and receiver Finley Rivera, two sophomores who spent last year honing their skills on the freshman team as the varsity captured a NCS D-IV title, connected tor two touchdowns.
The second one came on a 24-yard crosser with 4:37 left in the third quarter, giving Acalanes a lead it would not relinquish. But the two also came up huge in the scoreless fourth.
Rivera filled in for the injured Niko White in the slot and helped the Dons burn even more precious time on a late-game drive with a clutch 24-yard catch down the seam. After the drive stalled out, Winkles nailed a punt that pinned Campolindo inside the 20-yard-line with a minute to play.
Campolindo made it to the 35-yard line after a series of pinpoint throws by Habas, but the final drive of Campo’s season drive came up empty.
“We only had two starters back on offense and defense, so these kids had to learn quickly,” Acalanes coach Floyd Burnsed said. “And we have a great sophomore class who really helped this group.”
Acalanes led 14-0 in the first quarter after Rivera capped the opening 11-play drive with a six-yard touchdown, and Winkles connected with junior Grant Ricker for another 11-yard touchdown on the ensuing eight-play march.
But Campolindo outscored Acalanes 17-0 and went into halftime with the lead behind a 33-yard Mack Fisher touchdown reception from Reid Habas, a 35-yard field goal by Zach Tabibian and a short Micah Parker touchdown run.
“Our kids can fight, and we did, but the talent level was just too big of a difference to overcome,” Campo coach Kevin Macy said. “We had to play smart and we couldn’t make mistakes.”
Winkles finished the night 10 for 15 with 166 passing yards and three touchdowns, and Rivera had five catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
Habas had 209 passing yards and one touchdown, and Parker had 97 yards and one touchdown on 24 carries. Revelos had six catches for 75 yards.
