In its first CCS championship appearance since 1998, the Aragon football team (9-5 overall) defeated the St. Francis football team in Watsonville (9-4 overall) with a 38-14 victory on Nov. 27. Sophomore running back Ivan Nisa’s 160 rushing yards and the Dons’ robust defense were integral parts of their all-around team performance.
The Dons ran 80 plays from scrimmage, which was 70% of the 114 total plays run in the game. They controlled the game with their strong running game that ran for a total of 305 yards and accounted for four of the Dons’ five touchdowns.
The Dons had a slow start in the first half. They entered halftime down 14-10 partly due to two first-half touchdowns by the Sharks’ senior running back Johrdan Garibay, one of which was an 84-yard kickoff return.
They most likely would have been down by 11 at half if it wasn’t for the late second-quarter red-zone interception by junior defensive lineman Albert Zheng. This play was crucial to keeping the Dons’ hopes up before entering halftime.
The Dons scored 10 points in the first half, scoring a field goal, a successful extra point attempt by junior kicker Cole Smith, and a rushing touchdown by junior running back Jared Walsh.
“Every game, we come out a little shaky,” said senior wide receiver Alan Tanielu. “We dial in after, but it should always be the first snap of the game that we should be dialed in.”
The Dons’ defense and rushing attack led to their success in the second half of the game. The Dons deferred the opening coin toss, so they received the ball first in the second half. In the first drive of the second half, the Dons scored a touchdown on a 52-yard reverse pass that junior wide receiver Lloyd Walter threw to Alan Tanielu. This play gave the Dons the lead and changed the game’s momentum. The team made an adjustment at halftime to stop the Sharks’ quarterback sweep that troubled the Dons’ defense in the first half of the game.
“[Britt Williams’] fingerprints are all over our program and … certainly all over the win on Saturday”
“We made a couple adjustments,” said defensive coordinator Ashley Parham. “We didn’t know [how] to pick up the quarterback option type play so we made corrections. After that, [St.Francis] really struggled to move the ball.
The Dons’ defense had two strong plays in the fourth quarter. A strip sack by senior outside linebacker Luke Quanbeck was recovered by sophomore defensive lineman Amaziah Tanielu, and junior defensive lineman T.Y. Faaumu successfully intercepted a Shark’s pass.
“I didn’t realize I got the pick until … I stood up,” Faaumu said. “That [play] was special for me.”
The Dons’ run game exploded in the second half. It was led by sophomore running back Nisa’s 106 rushed yards, contributing to the Dons’ 193-yard rushing attack. The Don’s rushing attack also had three touchdowns in the second half, one by Tanielu and two by senior running back Solomone Hokafonu.
This CCS championship win was the first one since 1994, when Britt Williams was still the head coach of the Dons’ team. Williams passed away earlier this year near the start of the football season, and this victory was a fitting way to honor one of Aragon’s all-time greatest coaches. His impact on Aragon’s football program was evident in the Dons’ victory.
“After [we made corrections], [St.Francis] struggled to move the ball”
“[Many] people on our staff [were] touched by being coached by Britt or coaching with Britt,” said head coach Steve Sell. “I played for him and coached with him, coach Parham played for him [and] coach Wu played for him. [Coach] Steve Dixon [also] coached with him. He instilled [values] about being physical and being able to run the ball and stop and run. His fingerprints are all over our program and it was certainly all over the win on Saturday.”
The Dons are celebrating for now.
“We’ll see from here,” said senior offensive guard David Fononga. “But we’re gonna take this [win and] celebrate it for a few days and get back on track.”
On Dec. 4, the Dons’ season came to an end as they lost 36-28 in a California Interscholastic Federation State Football Championship Bowl Game against Salesian College Preparatory (10-2 overall).
