Following their loss in the CIF State D-III AA final, the Amador Valley football team's story is one of determination and growth. (Photo by Bryan Kenitzer) At least they got there, a sentiment that echoes throughout their season.

The Amador Valley Football Team's Unforgettable Season

The Bus Ride Home

After the 18-14 loss to Frontier High from Bakersfield on Saturday night, the bus ride home on Saturday morning must have been an interesting one. The moods and mannerisms on the bus were all over the place. Some got some much-needed sleep while others stared out the window, listening to music or having conversations. Replaying the game in their heads, they tried to find what could have been done differently.There are so many emotions and thoughts at this point. Athletes, especially the high-level ones, reach deep inside and grow from these experiences. It's a place that those who haven't been an athlete can't understand.

Facing Adversity

This is one of the most underrated things about sports. Athletes face adversity head-on, and whether they win or lose, they become stronger and better people. They have different ways of processing a big loss, but they all arrive at the same place - handling a moment they will remember for the rest of their lives.When their bus pulled into the Amador Valley parking lot on Saturday, greeted by a throng of parents, friends and members of the Pleasanton community, they had one thought - an overwhelming sense of pride. This group of boys galvanized the entire community.

The Season's Highlights and Lowlights

The Dons' varsity team started the season with a bang, winning a pair of 2-0 games over American and Freedom on Dec. 2-3. Ramsay Hanna and Ryan Bell scored both goals in each game. But on Dec. 7, they fell 5-0 to Clayton Valley.The JV team had some great moments too. They beat American 6-0 with a hat-trick from Ekansh Samanta. Diego Tempero, Leo Wiedemeyer and Joseph Prunty also contributed. The next day, they won 3-0 against Freedom with goals from Samanta, Tempero and Muhriz Munir. Samanta was named Player of the Match. However, they fell short in their weekend match against Clayton Valley Charter, losing 1-0. Munir was recognized for his performance.The freshmen team also had their moments. They kicked off by beating Dublin 3-1, with goals from Rolando Tovar and Kingston Smith. Ethan Hernandez, Ewan Kinnear, Harry Brown, Jesus Hernandez and Sawyer Willis played well. This past week, the varsity Dons tied 1-1 against Liberty and then lost 5-0 to Vintage on Dec. 14. Bell found the net against Liberty, assisted by D’Onofrio.The JV team battled to a 0-0 draw against Liberty and then beat Vintage 3-1 with goals from Munir, Guillermo Galvan and Jesus Desiderio Hernandez. The freshman team got a late goal by Rolando Tovar to beat Freedom.Although they didn't get the ideal ending they had hoped for, what they got was even better - their sense of pride and community. Only two teams in the entire state of California in their division can make the state finals. For the players to bring everyone together gives them the exclusive right to stand tall and carry themselves with pride. It may sting for a while, but it will also put a smile on their faces for the rest of their lives. A job and a season well done! Thank you for taking us all along for the ride.