Dons want to atone for lost chance

Why?

A win would have vaulted the Dons into a dream matchup with rival San Mateo, who they had beaten earlier in the season in what many regarded as the Bay Area's game of the year. And with more newspapers covering local prep sports around the San Mateo area today than seemingly ever before, it would have no doubt been the most hyped and publicized pigskin game in city history.

Of course, the Dream Game never materialized.

Aragon fell flat in its stunning loss to the Vikings, while San Mateo pummeled Palo Alto for the championship. Regret, anyone? You bet.

"I would have definitely done some things differently (against Palo Alto)," Sell said. "As a coach you kick yourself for certain play calls. You fault yourself and try to learn from it."

Sell pointed to the first round game with Mitty, a brutal yet thrilling 43-36 double overtime win that left the players physically and emotionally drained. Worse yet, the Dons were caught looking ahead.

"Did we sleepwalk through the Palo Alto game? Yes. Were we overconfident? Yes. I fault myself for not recognizing it," he said. "It was the worst week of practice the whole year. I underestimated how beat up we were after the Mitty game. The kids came to practice the following Monday and could barely move."

So what does this all mean for the upcoming season? It means the Dons are hungrier and more inspired than ever. And that folks, is downright scary considering Aragon returns 10 starters from a team that finished 9-3 and went 7-0 in the Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division.

The 10 returnees doesn't include three key players (Chris and Moses Pita along with Hanson Sekona) who all have an outside shot of coming back later in the season for various reasons. But any conversation regarding Aragon starts with its heart and soul, linebacker/flanker Eddie Williams, a bruising 6-2, 225-pound senior whom Sell expects "huge things from."

"He's far and away our team leader, our hardest worker, a great success and a coach's dream," Sell said.

Williams will also split time on the defensive line, where he is joined by Jake Blood, Scott Dito and Matangi Tonga. Blood and Dito are molded in the way you expect Aragon lineman: tough, physical and strong. Sell is especially high on Tonga, whom he calls an "absolutely exceptional, explosive guy who could be one of the best defensive players we've had here in the last 10 years."

The linebacker corps remains ultra-strong with Devin Gledhill and Sitani Tau, while the secondary has the potential to be Aragon's finest group in recent memory. In cornerbacks Justin Okita and Maurice Bates, along with safeties Daniel Bahlert and Scott Holton, the Dons possess speed and strong coverage personnel.

The offensive line, traditionally an Aragon strength, should round into peak form with each game. Junior Bola and Chris Havili are two of the best on the Peninsula, while Lass Taungahihito, Mike Wu, Jay Cavazos, Josh Landis and tight end Pat O'Neal are expected to make key contributions.

Aragon's pipeline of talent doesn't end there. The Dons have incredible personnel at the skill positions, including running back Dominic Williams, who rushed for 1,700 yards and scored 22 touchdowns as a sophomore last season.

Williams is "more mature, stronger and faster," Sell said. And if opponents crowd the line of scrimmage against the Dons - and that's a given - then quarterback Noel Alexandre could have a field day. The 6-2 gunslinger showed flashes of brilliance last year, passing for 100 yards or more on four occasions. His main target will be the speedy Sean Mosman, a returning first-team, all-leaguer who no doubt will receive plenty of attention from the opposition.

"I'm really excited about the experience we have on this year's team and the dynamics on our D-line," Sell said. "We look great on paper, but that doesn't always translate to wins. It's up to us to go out there and play and earn it."