Acalanes overpowered Marin Catholic 51–21 on Friday night in Lafayette, delivering a complete statement performance to secure the Dons’ journey in the North Coast Section Division 1/Open playoffs.  From the opening whistle, the undefeated Dons dictated the pace, controlled the trenches, and showcased one of their most balanced outings of the season. They scored on each of their first three drives, surging ahead 14–0 before Marin Catholic could settle in. Even when the Wildcats clawed back to within 28–21 late in the third quarter, that was it for MC. 

Acalanes’ defense set the tone early and never eased up, producing a flurry of game-changing plays that continually swung momentum. The secondary turned the field into its own takeaway playground, headlined by Grant “Theft Auto” Condy’s two interceptions, along with picks from Finn Rivera and Grant Ricker. The pressure up front was equally relentless. The Dons racked up five sacks, powered by Daniel Dunne’s dominant 2.5-sack, seven-tackle performance and Bryce Birdsong’s two sacks and three tackles for loss. Whether collapsing the pocket or closing down rushing lanes, the defense repeatedly shut down Marin Catholic drives and handed the offense valuable short fields.

On offense, Acalanes operated with precision and depth across every position group. Grant Ricker headlined the receiving attack, hauling in six passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns as he consistently created separation and turned moderate gains into explosive plays. In the backfield, Josh Elerts provided the physical heartbeat of the run game, grinding out 75 hard-earned yards on 21 carries to control tempo and keep the Wildcats honest. Additionally, receiving threats, Andrew Upp, Jackson Boselli, and Finn Rivera each added a touchdown grab, highlighting the Dons’ versatility and the challenges they posed for Marin Catholic’s secondary.

At the center of it all was quarterback Tyler Winkles, delivering one of his crispest, most commanding performances of the season. Five touchdown passes, two rushing scores, 340 yards through the air—numbers loud enough to drown out any debate about nicknames. No nickname needed; his stats do all the talking, lighting up every scoreboard in sight. Precision, power, and poise…Winkles didn’t just play the game, he owned it, leaving defenders spinning and fans on their feet.

Now the offensive line—they deserve a nickname. They don’t grab the spotlight, but they do their job brilliantly. Much of the night’s offensive fireworks started up front with this dominant six-man crew. Call them “The Trench Kings,” “The Iron Curtain,” “The Pancake Patrol,” “The Guardians,” or “The Blitz-Proof Brotherhood”—they’ve earned every bit of their myth-making reputation. OB MacLeod, Liam Crinnion, Joey Martin, Cash Ricker, Santi Trejo, and Matthew Lee don’t just block; they set the tone, control the tempo, and pave the way for every highlight that follows.    Night after night, they’re the ones grinding in the dirt so the stars can shine, and against the Wildcats, they were nothing short of imperial. They owned the line of scrimmage from the opening snap, bulldozing downhill lanes for Elerts and giving Winkles a pocket so pristine he could’ve hosted a dinner party in it, complete with dessert, while dismantling the Wildcats’ secondary.

With last week’s victory…
Acalanes (11-0)  has now stretched its home winning streak to eight games, and the streak doesn’t stop there. Next up: a high-stakes semifinal clash in Santa Rosa against Cardinal Newman (10-1) next Friday at 7 p.m.

The Cardinals barely edged out San Marin 21-14 in overtime in the NCS Quarterfinals.  Their only loss this season? An August outing against Manteca, 40-7.  One thing is clear: Cardinal Newman is battle-tested, with one of Northern California’s stingiest defenses, giving up just 10.5 points per game. But Acalanes isn’t losing sleep over stats, numbers, or reputations. Undefeated, seasoned, and unshakable, the Dons take one game at a time…and this week is no different. Depth? Check. Offensive firepower? Check. Defensive lockdown? Check. Special teams dominance? Check. The vibe is electric, the confidence palpable, and the focus razor-sharp.   Acalanes is heading to Santa Rosa with swagger, purpose, and a style of football that doesn’t flinch, fade, or bow to rankings. Friday night promises a showdown, and the Dons are ready to own it.

It’s simple: one game, one mission. Fear the Blue.