The final whistle blew for the Dons on Nov. 14th at Monta Vista Highschool. The 14-24 loss against Monta Vista was a tender moment for all the players, as some stepped off the field for the last time.
“When we made the playoffs it felt outstanding. The reason why it was such a cool game was because we needed to win it or else we were going to go home…It was just a really gritty, tough game by our players,” said Varsity Head Coach Danny Jones.
For the seniors, the game was especially emotional. Many walked off the field for the last time, as their high school football careers came to an end.
“I’d say [leaving the field for the last time] was quite difficult, because you just have the feeling and know that you’ll never pick up a helmet or football ever again,” said player Yair Espinoza (‘26).
Brotherhood
During the season, numerous injuries created setbacks for the team, but these challenges also strengthened their bond as a whole.
“The senior class is a group that’s played together for a long time… and we had a lot of younger players and underclassmen that I really felt kind of grew with the bond as the season went on. And got to prove their worth and got opportunities to step up when guys were injured, and I think the seniors really respected those guys, and the team became really tight knit,” said Assistant Coach Williams.
As the months flew by, players formed friendships that helped push each other on and off the field.
“My favorite game was probably the Foothill Highschool game because we beat the rivalry, and my second one would probably be the Cal High game because we went to EBALs,” said Team Captain Vincent Maiorana (‘26).
The Last Chapter
After years with the program, the Monta Vista game marked his final time on the sidelines for Amador.
“The relationships with the players is what I’ll miss the most. I don’t know that it completely hit me right away, that it was my last game here at Amador. But it’s kind of slowly creeping up on me now a little bit more. And I just have a lot of good memories with this team and teams past,” said Jones.
Although many players are sad to see him leave, they feel much gratitude towards him for the way he has impacted their lives for the better.
“He has impacted me a lot and made me a better person. He has shaped me into who I am today. I’ve played with him for three years, and I feel like he’s been a second father figure for me,” said Maiorana.
