Davis Fire has Acalanes scrambling to find new football opponent

LAFAYETTE – The Acalanes football team is trying to find a game for this week after the Davis wildfire in Nevada led to the cancellation of their matchup with Galena, a school based out in Reno. 

“The school been shut down and is now a command post for the fire department there,” Acalanes coach Floyd Burnsed told the Bay Area News Group on Wednesday afternoon. “They haven’t practiced all week, and they let us know this morning that they weren’t going to be able to come.”

Burnsed said that the Dons, the reigning 3-AA state champions, are willing to play at home or away.

Burnsed and team captain Drew McKenzie both offered their sympathies to the Nevada community. 

“We’re hoping that they’re safe right now,” McKenzie said. 

“There’s a lot of things that are more important than high school football, and this is one of them,” Burnsed added. 

The Reno Gazette Journal reports that the fire – which has burned for five days as of Wednesday – has consumed 5,646 acres and is 37 percent contained. 

Acalanes has started its title defense 2-0 with victories over Lowell-San Francisco and Mt. Diablo. As of now, the school’s next game will be at home on Sept. 20 against College Park.

If the Dons don’t find another opponent to replace Galena, they will play nine games during the regular season instead of 10. If they are unable to find another opponent this week, they could also try to make up a game in late October during their bye week.

The Acalanes JV team still has a game against St. Ignatius scheduled for Friday.