The Dons continued their winning ways Friday night with a victory over the Hornets of Lincoln High School. The game was a rematch of last year’s CIF title game where the Dons beat Lincoln 24-7. The game must have been very frustrating for a fan of the Hornets to watch; it seemed that every time the Hornets had a positive play, on offense or defense, the team seemed determined to shoot themselves in the foot.

On the Dons’ first offensive possession, a pass from junior quarterback Garrett Bogart was tipped and intercepted by a Hornet defender. The Dons’ defense did hold strong, but on the Lincoln punt, the Dons ran into the punter, giving the Hornets a fresh set of downs.

The Hornets did not convert on their second chance to score, either, as after the special teams penalty, the Hornets attempted a long field goal that was well short of the uprights.

The Lincoln defense played exceptionally well early on, stuffing the Dons on nearly every running attempt. The front seven of the Hornets seemed to overpower the offensive line of the Dons on every play early in the game.

The Dons found much of their success early in the air, first off of a long pass to senior tight end Andrew Pascale who had a chance to take it into the endzone but lost his footing near the goaline and fell short. Bogart took the ball in himself from the half-yard line to make it a 7-0 game.

On the following possession of the Hornets, running back Charles Jamise busted a 40 yard run. Despite the long play, Lincoln again was forced to punt the ball away. Another golden opportunity was given to the Hornets when junior Parker Price muffed the punt at the nine yard line and was recovered by Lincoln.

The opportunity’s kept coming the way of the Hornet’s when on third down the Hornet receiver drew a pass interference penalty on a pass that appeared to be uncatchable, Lincoln was given another first down. The Dons goal line defense would not let up, however, and the Hornets, despite getting multiple opportunities to put the ball in the end zone, were forced to kick a field goal to make it 7-3 Dons.

The Dons continued to find success through the air when a pass to Andrew Pascale was taken down to the Hornet four yard line. The long pass set up a two yard touchdown run for senior running back JJ Stavola to make it a 14-3 game.

On the next possession of Lincoln, the Hornets made another big play, this time through the air; however, the play was shortened by a personal foul called after the play. Even with the penalty, Lincoln was still threatening with under a minute left in the first half when a pass was intercepted by junior linebacker Taylor Esoldi.

Lincoln got the ball to the second half with the ball and started with another big run from Charles Jamise but again could not find the end zone. It truly was the story of the game and the story of the season for the Hornets. The team made plenty of phenomenal plays and was given golden oppurtunites, but the team either could not capitalize on the opportunity or they shoot themselves in the foot with a personal foul penalty.

The Dons did capitalize on their opportunities, both through the air with big plays from Andrew Pascale who ended the game with three catches for 120 yards, and on the ground with plays from JJ Stavola who had 21 carries for 132 yards and three touchdowns, including a 53 yard touchdown run.

The Dons defense also made plenty of big plays; Taylor Esoldi ended the game with two interceptions. The Dons pass rush also really got going in this game, especially in the second half, led by sophomore defensive lineman Kyle Davis who had 3.5 sacks in the game.

The Hornets remain winless this season with the loss against the Dons and move to an overall record of 0-7-1; they play at Saints next week. The Dons remain perfect in league play with the win and move to an overall record of 7-1; they will face Mira Mesa at home next week before facing off against Saints in the Holy Bowl, the final regular season game.