Despite the Dons missing critical players due to injury, Aragon was able to come out of their game on Friday, Oct. 29 with a 48-21 victory against Sequoia.
The Dons started the game off strong after a team effort on defense. Junior defensive back Anthonio Sandoval helped set the tone defensively by preventing multiple touchdowns in the beginning of the first quarter, locking down on Sequoia’s wide receiver, Renic Sloan. Later, after a failed snap off of an attempted Sequoia field goal, junior linebacker Lihati Unga was able to recover the ball for Aragon allowing the Dons to convert on the possession with a completed field goal.
Said tight end senior Charles Cao, “We have a great ‘D’ line, we have great freshmen who came up to varsity, [including] Cameron [Grant] and Marvin [West].”
Nearing the end of the first quarter, the Dons were able to position themselves for a 25-yard field goal, making the score 6-0.
On the ensuing possession, Sequoia quarterback junior Nick DeMarco was able to a 65-yard reception, bringing the Cherokees to the Dons’ one-yard line. In the following play, the Cherokees were able to run in a touchdown, getting ahead of the Dons, 7-6.
Then, mid-way through the second quarter, Aragon quarterback senior Tanner Nguyen was able to connect with wide receiver senior Devin Grant for a 42-yard reception. Soon after, sophomore, Gabe Campos received the ball in the end zone, allowing the Dons to take the lead, 12-7.
After regaining possession from Sandoval’s interception at Sequoia’s 32-yard line, running back sophomore Donaven Robinson was able to move up the field and bring the Dons to a first-and-goal. After the two point conversion, the score then stood at 20-7, which the Dons then took into halftime.
In the beginning of the second half, the Dons were able to find Campos once again in the end-zone to extend the lead to 27-7.
Forced in a fourth down, Sequoia attempted to punt, but defensive back sophomore Jordan Avalo was able to dive in front of the ball, allowing Sandoval to recover the loose ball and bring it in for a touchdown, leading in score, 34-7.
In the end, after two strong offensive plays from each team, Aragon earned its first league win, defeating Sequoia 48-21.
Although starting running back junior V.A. Wilson was sidelined with a collarbone injury, Robinson was able to rise up and fill the void, helping the Dons obtain the victory with his strong running game. Additionally, sophomores wide receiver Davion Cox and Campos were also key factors in Aragon’s win.
Of the team’s overall performance, Grant says, “They brought a lot of spark to the team. We had some guys out and a lot of underclassmen stepped up. They did their job. They worked hard in practice all week and they performed.”
