Scots defeat Dons 20-6
Running back and dimebacker Sam Pacholuk (32) tackles Robby Demattei (32).
After a resounding 30-20 victory at Lincoln-San Jose last Friday, the Dons were on the road again this time facing Carlmont High School in Belmont. The Scots were coming off a 14-7 loss last week against the San Mateo Bearcats and both teams came in to the contest hoping to further prove themselves as contenders for playoff contention.
The Carlmont defense forced a quick three-and-out on Aragon’s opening drive and the Dons were forced to punt. Facing a 3rd & 9 on their fourth play from scrimmage, junior Carlmont quarterback Jack Karasky rolled out to his right and dumped the ball off to senior Carlmont running back Robert Johnson. Johnson then displayed his speed and agility by racing 79 yards for the touchdown putting the home team on the board first 7-0 with 8:50 left in the first quarter.
Johnson was the mainstay of the Scot’s offense and finished the day with 191 yards on the ground and 85 yards receiving.
Three possessions later, the Dons were finally able to get something going when senior quarterback Anthony Nichols unloaded a 61-yard bomb to senior wingback Aaron Eder for the score. Eder led the Aragon offense with six catches for 128 yards. The two-point conversion failed leaving the score at 7-6 with 10:40 remaining in the first half.
“It was [actually] a busted play,” says Nichols. “We were in the wrong formation and two people were running the same route. I just saw Aaron going deep and I heaved it to him.”
Both team’s offenses were momentarily stymied after that with Carlmont turning over on downs and Aragon forced to punt. The Scots then embarked on an eight-play drive capped off with a five-yard rushing touchdown by Johnson. The PAT failed leaving the score at 13-6 with 3:01 left in the first half.
The second half began with tough going for both teams on offense. The Aragon defense was able to force a punt on the Scot’s first two possessions of the half. The Dons got the ball back and were showing signs of a comeback on an 11-play drive that lasted for half of the third quarter. Nichols had a game full of highs and lows with one of the highs being a 60-yard run that also came off a busted play. Aragon seemed primed to get into the end zone but the drive came to an abrupt end when senior Carlmont cornerback Robby Demattei intercepted a pass.
Two Carlmont possessions later, Johnson was again able to get into the end zone this time on a 48-yard run that made the score 20-6 with 6:45 left in regulation.
In a bid for a come-from-behind victory, the Dons went to the air with Nichols connecting with Eder, junior wide receiver James Egan and senior wide receiver Kyle Fung. The passing attack helped Aragon march down the field while preserving as much time as possible. Any hope for a win was at last extinguished when sophomore Carlmont linebacker Mark Concilla intercepted a pass and secured a Carlmont victory with 1:23 left in the game.
The Dons will host the visiting Capuchino Mustangs next Friday, October 1 at 7 p.m. for a clash between San Mateo Union High Schools.
