Senior Patrick Pauni progresses a few yards during the game.
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Photos by Kelly Chang
The Aragon varsity football team fell to the Burlingame Panthers at Friday’s home game, marking yet another loss to an opponent that the varsity Dons have not beaten since 2007. The Dons, now 4–2 overall (1–1 Ocean), would have been tied with the 6–0 (1–0 Ocean) Panthers if they came out with a victory.
The Dons started the game strong and led the Panthers 7–0 with eight minutes left in the second quarter. Although their offense was not as smooth as it was last week in their 41–10 victory at Capuchino, they took advantage of crucial mistakes by Burlingame, including two muffed punts and a fumble.
However, the momentum started to swing in Burlingame’s favor after they returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown, tying the game at 7–7. The Dons would add a 24-yard field goal from senior kicker German Perez Meza to make it 10–7 in their favor at the half.
In the third quarter, things started to get a lot uglier for the Dons. Senior quarterback Nat Blood was hit while he was throwing, resulting in an interception that was returned for a Burlingame touchdown. After a missed extra point, Burlingame led the Dons 13–10.
Blood says, “The first drive of the second half really shifted the momentum.”
Later in the quarter, junior Burlingame quarterback Avery Gindraux scrambled up the middle for an 80-yard touchdown run, increasing their lead to 20–10 with a minute left in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, Head Coach Steve Sell made a risky call to go for it on fourth down from his own 45-yard line, but Blood’s attempt was intercepted by sophomore defensive back Andrew Kennedy for another Burlingame touchdown, extending the Panther lead to 27–10.
The Dons were able to stay in the game with a 47-yard catch and run from junior tight end Christopher Fiscal down to the Burlingame 5-yard line. Senior fullback Patrick Pauni finished off the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run, closing the deficit to 27–17.
But, a 15-yard touchdown run from junior Burlingame running back Griffin Interi with two minutes left put the game out of reach for the Dons. After a failed extra point attempt, the Panthers led 33–17, which would hold for the final score.
Burlingame’s defense, which had only allowed 12 points combined in their five games, was able to contain senior running back Keith Samujh and intercept Blood three times. Samujh ran for four touchdowns in last week’s game, and Blood, who is known around the league as a precision passer in the pocket, had two of his interceptions returned for touchdowns.
Junior running back Jasiah Folauo’o says, “We made a lot of offensive mistakes. Those interceptions were big momentum shifts for [Burlingame].”
The Dons have their next game on Friday, Oct. 25 at home against division rival Woodside High School. The Woodside Wildcats, despite their 2–4 overall record, beat Half Moon Bay and Capuchino in consecutive weeks, and look to give the Dons a tough test.
Blood adds, “[Burlingame is] a tough team, so based on what they did to other teams we can feel a little better. There are still always adjustments we can make. We’ll go in and watch film tomorrow, and learn from our mistakes.”
