Domination continues: Dons beat Knights 59-38

Victorious by a large 59-38 margin against Hillsdale last Friday, the Aragon varsity football team nears the end of one of its most successful recent seasons.

After a close 20-21 loss to Half Moon Bay High School the previous week, the Dons were determined to emerge triumphant against Hillsdale. Predicting the rainy weather for the game, the team practiced using a wet football. However, the team’s underlying principle stayed constant. Junior Dominic Proia said, “[We’re] using the same strategy, just hitting hard.”

After receiving the kickoff from Hillsdale, the Dons immediately went to work showcasing their reliable strategy of “hitting hard.” Steadily carrying the ball down the field, senior wide receiver James Egan scored a touchdown within the first three minutes of the first quarter, which was followed by a successful field goal by junior kicker James Garcia.

Aragon’s defense also displayed its strength as Hillsdale gained possession of the ball. Junior linebacker Jordan Mapa quickly turned the ball over back to Aragon after a jumping interception from Hillsdale. Following up on Mapa’s interception, senior running back Davarian Redd brought another touchdown to Aragon with seven minutes still in the first quarter.

Pushed back by Aragon’s defensive squad, Hillsdale soon chose to punt. Though this pushed the Dons back considerably, a burst of athleticism from 5’8” 150-pound quarterback Dominic Proia carried the ball 60 yards to complete another touchdown for Aragon. The first quarter ended with a comfortable 21-0 lead for the Dons.

Both teams scored fourteen points in the second quarter. Aragon advanced to the end zones through an explosive run by Egan and a pass to senior tight end Gregory Lyons. On the other hand, Hillsdale advanced steadily with persistent carries by senior running back Damien Carter. The quarter ended at 33-14 with Hillsdale in possession of the ball.

However, Aragon soon gained possession after a fumble by Carter. The offensive squad played very physically, wasting no time to wait during any of its plays. Redd, trailed by Hillsdale’s defense, swiftly drove into the end zone once again, bringing the score up to 40-14 with another successful field goal by Garcia.

Back on the offensive, Hillsdale faced difficulty in advancing under the pressure from Aragon’s defensive squad. The Knights suffered many incomplete passes until they progressed slowly but surely to Aragon’s end zone, where senior Angel Salazar scored a touchdown.

With limited time left in the game, Hillsdale chose to forego a point after kick and attempted a two-point conversion after Salazar’s touchdown. The play was successful bringing the score to 46-22 with the Dons in the lead.

The Dons still displayed an unrelenting offense as Redd persistently carried down the field. After another touchdown for Aragon, the quarter ended with Aragon leading 53-22.

During the fourth quarter, the heavy rain coaches had predicted began to pour; however, both teams were prepared as players did not slip in their performance. On the contrary, Hillsdale’s began a last minute offense, deciding to forego point after kick attempts in favor of two-point conversions.

The Knights broke free of the initial stagnancy in the playing field during the middle of the fourth. Carter carried the ball into the end zone twice, bringing the score to Aragon 59, Hillsdale 30, after Aragon senior Victor Jimenez scored a touchdown.

With little time left in the quarter and diminished prospects of winning, the Knights nevertheless persisted in their offense. Hillsdale junior Michael Camel scored the last touchdown for Hillsdale and the game, running 54 yards with three minutes left on the clock. After another successful two-point conversion, the “Battle of the Fleas” game ended at a score of Aragon 59, Hillsdale 38.

Through a more physical approach characteristic of this season, the Dons have enjoyed the fruits of their labor with a current record of 8-2. Based on their performance, head coach Steve Sell was awarded with a San Francisco 49ers Charles Wedemeyer Coach of the Week Award, in which the school would be awarded $1000 for the football program. Sell says, “It’s nice to receive [this award]; rarely you get public awards [because] the satisfaction is intrinsic.”

The team is now undergoing training for a CCS playoff against Sobrato High School on Nov. 19 at Aragon at 1 p.m. Though a recent loss against Half Moon Bay slightly downgraded the Don’s CCS ranking, the team is still optimistic for the future. Mapa says, “This year, the team is hungry; we are giving it all out on the field on every single play.”