11/1/09
Turn out the Lights
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Amador Valley
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I liken the Amador Dons Varsity Football team to the car at least some of us owned in high school. Every morning you’d come out to the ride and admire it. You are tired and worn out, but its Friday and the buds are waiting for you in the parking lot at school. You start the motor, listening to it sputter and pop trying to get going. She wants to go, but the car just moves along slowly. Then you put the coolest Scorpions cassette you own into the radio, but it too, takes a while to get started. Every other word of “Rock You like a Hurricane” spits out of the speakers. Man, all this sputtering and coughing and shaking is tossing my coffee mom made for me around (There were no Starbucks open back then). Yet, all is cool as you pull up and see your buds are getting ready to go to class, the stereo is finally working, helping you belt out those last words, ROCK You like a Hurricane… You finally got going.
This season, the Varsity Dons have started out this way, sputtering and rattling. then they move along, without hesitation and fear. They don’t get rattled. The men go about their business each play as Coach Sira directed: Play for six seconds, the game is long and, focus when under pressure. They know their buds are with them on the same field, doing the same thing: head-knocking and banging into the other team, making stuff happen. It’s the pain and intense suffering and extreme aging they place on parents and fans alike that sends us back each week. The Dons had no reaction to spotting the Wolves 13 points before they started rocking like a hurricane. Sometimes the men take a little while to get moving.
San Ramon Valley opened up with a flash, throwing, diving and jumping for passes all over the field, only to settle for a field goal. They looked polished and showed lots of enthusiasm. So, at 9:06 in the first, the score was already 3-0. Amador came on slowly, taking their time to wake up and start the car. They too had some flash of their own, but were forced to punt. San Ramon went straight to the pass. Hakeem Dyson did his best to break up a long pass, but the ball was tipped, bobbled and eventually caught by San Ramon for their first touchdown. The Wolves now had the lead, 10-0. The Dons, never even reacted…
Amador took over and handed the ball to Dalton, who ran right through, around and over The Wolves. The men on the O-line were getting down to business. Kean Stancil then ran untouched 45 yards for Amador's first score. The Wolves had us 10-7. Amador decided to take away the running game from the Wolves. They tried a fake punt, they got the first down, but Alex Martinez locked on to the runner and wouldn’t let go, keeping the big play from hurting the Dons. The Wolves moved the ball, with limited success in the air and the running game was beginning to slow. Amador fumbled the ball on their next possession, but little came of it as the Wolves managed only another field goal. They now led 13-7. The Dons took a little while to warm up and get rolling in the first quarter, but as the afternoon rolled on, the Dons awoke.
The second quarter began with the Dons running on all cylinders. The radio was on and they were singing. Another fumble by the Dons and another failed try by the Wolves to hurt the Dons. Amador held the Wolves, forcing a punt. Dalton then decided to take a Stancil handoff and run 50 yards to the two yard line. Another Amador fumble gave the Wolves yet another chance to hurt the Dons. San Ramon could only manage yet another field goal. Amador decided they wanted to score, Kean Stancil found Tyler Christensen in the back of the end zone for Amador’s second touchdown. The Wolves now led 16-14.
San Ramon Valley had to be wondering, what stops these Dons? They figured they had not tried a QB sneak yet; Josh Parr ended that idea.
Now, this is where the game really gets good.
San Ramon Valley tried again, to throw against the Don defense. The Dons however, forced the Wolves to punt. Now, Amador fans remember when Matt Banahan used to return punts in record fashion as a JV player? He ran past everyone. In some cases, shoes were strewn about the field as Matt juked and ducked past opposing players, enroute to many touchdowns over the years. Well, he did the same Saturday. Matt caught the punt, and ran 51 yards (Confirmed by Dad) for an Amador touchdown. Amador now led 21-16. There went the lights…
The third quarter began with San Ramon trying the pass... Matt Banahan, (see above) stepped in front, intercepting and returning the ball 30 yards for Amador’s fourth touchdown. Amador now led by a score of 28-16.
San Ramon was out of options, they tried to throw, run and even fake a punt; without success. The Dons were now running on all cylinders, singing, rock you like a hurricane. Maybe some trash talk by the Wolves would scare the Dons, oh ya…
Amador Valley would not let up. The Wolves struggled to move the ball and keep the Dons running game from moving forward. Leave it to Stancil and Tyler Christensen again. Stancil spotted Christensen in the end zone for another Amador touchdown. The lights were now out, so to speak and the Wolves were licking their wounds Amador, despite committing six turnovers, were giving the Wolves the business and leading 35-16.
Amador just would not let up. Tunday Olayami introduced himself to the Wolves with a, “Not in my neighborhood” hit. Eventually time ran out and the Dons were victorious.
The Amador Valley Dons started off the first quarter sputtering and popping. The cassette tape was skipping, but they were in control. No fear, panic or stress shook the men. They just picked up where they left off with last weeks Grizzlies, because that’s how they roll.
I spoke with Matt Banahan Sunday about his two interceptions and his punt return. Matt, being the humble one, first gave credit to his teammates then to coach Sira for calling the correct cover. Matt said, “Coach called a purple cover and I knew that both receiver patterns were going to cross in front of me, so I waited for the throw, which happened to come right at me”. He also credited Cameron Ashtiani for helping with the first interception by tipping the ball into his hands.
Coach Sira pointed to confidence and the ability to cause a momentum shift, were keys to this game. The Amador Valley Dons once again, aged fans and parents alike with their crazy play. The sun was bright and the weather was perfect. The Dons rocked em like a hurricane… See ya next Friday night.
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