MORAGA – Surrounded by jubilant Acalanes classmates and pelted by the pouring rain, senior lineman Jack Manful proudly waved a large white flag emblazoned with the Dons’ signature “A” logo before spearing it into Campolindo’s soggy logo at midfield on Friday night.
After watching the Cougars plant their flag at Acalanes a season ago, Manful and the rest of the Dons seniors had waited a whole year for revenge, which came in the form of a 21-12 victory in Moraga.
It was the Lafayette school’s first win over its rival since 2019.
“This felt so good,” Manful said. “We lost to these guys three years in a row, and it felt great, in my senior year, to just put that flag down and show them what we worked for all season.”
The win for Acalanes (7-2, 3-0) clinched at least a share of the Diablo Athletic League Foothill Division title, and put the Dons in position to capture their first unshared league crown since 1981 with a victory over Las Lomas next week.
And to do it on Friday at a place that has haunted the Dons for years? Even better.
“This was very sweet,” coach Floyd Burnsed said. “Especially here on their senior night and all that good stuff, that makes it extra special.“
Acalanes’ Grant Ricker (19) is all smiles as the final seconds wind down on the clock during the fourth quarter of their game at Campolindo High School in Moraga, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Acalanes defeated Campolindo 21-12. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
In last year’s game, Campolindo came back from down 14 points in the fourth quarter to rip the victory away from Acalanes.
With a little under three minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Cougars appeared primed for another wild comeback. Speedy running back Micah Parker had helped drive the hosts into the red zone, and a touchdown would give cut the deficit to three with several timeouts to spare.
“I got nervous for sure,” Manful said.
Those nerves were soothed a few seconds later, when sophomore defensive back Finley Rivera picked off a tipped pass in the end zone to seal the win.
It was his second interception of the night.
“Oh my gosh that felt amazing,” Rivera said. “I knew we would win if we got that, so we had to get a stop.”
The usually-potent Dons offense needed to lean on Rivera and the defense in a game that saw buckets of rain turn the football into a greased pig and passing almost pointless. Acalanes relied on running back Josh Elerts and his 182 rushing yards to keep the attack on schedule.
“We’re a passing offense, getting the ball to Niko and some of the other guys, but the ball was just so slippery,” Burnsed said.
Students shield themselves from the rain during the third quarter of their game at Campolindo High School in Moraga, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Acalanes defeated Campolindo 21-12. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Before the monsoon hit Moraga, sophomore quarterback Tyler Winkles connected with senior wideout Niko White on a slant pattern midway through the first quarter.
White, a key contributor on last year’s state title-winning team, turned on the jets in front of former teammate and current Cal wideout Trevor Rogers and burned Campo for a 59-yard catch-and-run touchdown.
White, whose team tripled its lead on two Winkles touchdown runs, expects Acalanes to contend for more than just a league title this season.
“We have the heart to do it,” White said. “And we can be just as good as any other team if we put our minds to it. … We have goals, and one of them is to go back-to-back.”
Acalanes’ Niko White (18) glances back as he runs for a touchdown against Campolindo during the first quarter of their game at Campolindo High School in Moraga, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Acalanes defeated Campolindo 21-12. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
After going down 21-0 late in the third quarter, Campo’s Reid Habas connected with Crosby Kelly on a 16-yard touchdown pass with 3:23 left in the quarter, and then the quarterback cut the deficit to nine on a QB sneak midway through the fourth period.
That wasn’t enough for the Cougars, which dropped to 4-5 and just 1-2 in league play. Campolindo will be playing for its playoff life next week at Miramonte.
“From day one, I predicted we’d have to go 2-1 in our district, and we knew this was a loaded Acalanes team,” Macy said. “Now it’s Miramonte or bust.”
Acalanes junior linebacker Deonte Littlejohn noted that the elusive unshared league title is still far from guaranteed, with Las Lomas possessing a potent attack worthy of attention.
But before he shifted his focus to the next opponent, the pass rusher made sure to savor his first victory over Campolindo before leaving the field.
“It’s been a long time in the making, a long time,” LIttlejohn said. “I knew this was gonna happen. This was the year. There’s a lot of dogs on this team, and something’s different. We’re a team that wins the big games.”
Campolindo head coach Kevin Macy glances across the field at Acalanes during the final minute of the fourth quarter of their game at Campolindo High School in Moraga, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Acalanes defeated Campolindo 21-12. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Acalanes head coach Floyd Burnsed coaches from the sideline against Campolindo during the first quarter of their game at Campolindo High School in Moraga, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Acalanes defeated Campolindo 21-12. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Acalanes quarterback Tyler Winkles (6) runs for yardage against Campolindo during the third quarter of their game at Campolindo High School in Moraga, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Acalanes defeated Campolindo 21-12. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Acalanes’ JB Frolich (88) makes a leaping catch over Campolindo’s Robert Roy Terry (46) during the first quarter of their game at Campolindo High School in Moraga, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Acalanes defeated Campolindo 21-12. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Acalanes’ Bethel Imasuen (65) pushes Campolindo’s Soushians Bahramifar (72) during the second quarter of their game at Campolindo High School in Moraga, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Acalanes defeated Campolindo 21-12. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)