Dons defeat Roadrunners 38-20

FOOTBALL
GAME DATE: September 8, 2012.

Lakey leads SAC to first win

Freshman Defensive Back Allen Atkins ended the Dons home opener Sept. 8, against College of the Desert with something he’s never done before. He returned a 32-yard interception for a touchdown, sealing the blowout win against the Roadrunners.

“This was actually my first interception touchdown return in my entire life,” Atkins said.

Atkins picked off a pass from Desert’s backup Quarterback Dakota Dartis on Desert’s 32-yard line and scored with less than two minutes left in fourth quarter, increasing the Dons’ lead 38-20.

Desert’s starting Quarterback Dane Tiedeman suffered a high ankle sprain halfway through the first quarter after the Dons Defensive Linebacker Nate Cox sacked him.

Although Dartis finished 19-36 for 245 yards, it wasn’t enough to help the Roadrunners overcome the Dons.

“I thought he did well, except he’s got to realize how important the ball is. He is a little too quick to just throw it anywhere,” Roadrunners Head Coach Dean Dowty said.

The Dons’ rushing game was key to its first win, gaining 233 yards compared to 146 from the Roadrunners. Running Back Areseo Lakey led the Dons in rushing with 91 yards followed by Brett Hurley with 62 yards.

“We had a bunch of guys that played really well,” said Dons Head Coach Geoff Jones. “Both Quarterbacks played well. The running backs played really well.”

The Dons finished the game with 473 total offensive yards. Joshua Webb led the Dons with 79 receiving yards and 178 all-purpose yards.

Areseo Lakey topped off his rushing performance with a touchdown late in the fourth quarter after the Roadrunners reduced the Dons 17-point lead to four. Lakey rushed the ball 3 yards into the end zone to give the Dons a 31-20 lead and put an end to the Roadrunners momentum.

Running Back Brett Hurley ended his rushing performance on a good note with a touchdown of his own. Hurley scored a 19-yard rush to give the Dons a commanding 24-7 lead halfway through the third quarter before the Roadrunners scored 13 unanswered points that brought them back into the game in the second half.

“If everybody is doing that, then we’re going to have a good season,” Jones said.

The Dons next home game will be against the Grossmont Griffins Sept. 22, at 1 p.m.