In 1995, the yearly, rivalry football game between the Arroyo Dons and San Lorenzo Rebels would be then on known as the “Helmet Game.” The “Helmet Game” was started by Wayne Roberts, the Dons coach, and Bill Versino, the Rebels coach. Both men coached together at Marina High and when the school was shut down in 1983, they received offers to coach at the San Lorenzo schools. After years of coaching against each other, they wanted to establish something that was worth playing for. So they came up with the idea of creating the “Helmet Game.”  Throughout the rivalry, the two teams have maintained the rivalry as a friendly one and one that they want the community to get involved in.                                                                                                                     

This added feature to the rivalry of the Dons and Rebels sparked a huge level of excitement throughout San Lorenzo . The helmet, which has an Arroyo logo on one side and a San Lorenzo logo on the other side, is given to the winning team.  The team has the honor of keeping the helmet until next year when the teams play for it again.                                                                                  

The Dons have won the “Helmet Game” 10 out of 14 times and have kept the helmet for the past three years. The last time the Rebels got the helmet was in the 2005 season when they barely pulled off a 7-6 victory.                                                                 

One of the most memorable wins in the “Helmet Game” was when Arroyo beat San Lorenzo after San Lorenzo ’s school resource officer went into Roberts' office and took the helmet as a prank. He paraded the helmet around in his car for the day. The Dons got angry and pumped and they won. Another great moment in the history of the helmet game was last year when Arroyo pulled off a win at a muddy San Lorenzo High, 12-6.          

- Staff Reporter Mikey Roberts     

The Dons' football team is gearing up for the most important game of their regular season, The Helmet Game.

Arroyo (3-5) will square off against crosstown rival San Lorenzo (4-3) on November 7 at Arroyo High School.

The offense will have to step up for the team to be successful so the defense can stay off the field. Fatigue has recently affected the Dons defense. Look for a steady dose of running backs Neil Buac, Mike Young, D.J. Moore, and fullback Micah McMurray to control the time of possession. Turnovers on offense also must be limited. “It all depends on how we play as a unit, also us backs need to take care of the football because fumbles played a factor in our past losses” says senior Neil Buac.

The defense will have their hands full with San Lorenzo quarterback Nick Stewart (#7) and running back Reyshawn Galvan (#21). As always, defensive line play will be the key to victory. Defensive linemen Micah McMurray, Josh Johnson, Zach Lanza, Jeff De La Cruz, Matt Gonzalez, and Kevin Wong will to try to control the line of scrimmage. Shutting down the run will be a big part of Arroyo's gameplan. If the defensive line does its job watch out for linebackers Kyle McEntee, D.J. Moore, and Alex Tapia to make big plays in the passing and running game. “We're going to have to make sure that every down we give it our best to make sure they get no first down and [we need to] create turnovers” says Matt Gonzalez.

San Lorenzo will post a difficult threat to the Dons since they have defeated many noteworthy teams in the H.A.A.L. They defeated Castro Valley 27-14 and Bishop O' Dowd 26-21.

The Dons will look to keep the helmet this year and make it four straight years that the helmet stays with us.

This years Helmet Game will be of added importance since it is also this year's Homecoming Game.

-Staff Reporter Luiz DeGuzman

The Arroyo Dons (3-5) put together a scoring frenzy as they defeated the Tennyson Lancers (2-6) 42-28. Running backs Mike Young, Neil Buac, Micah McMurray, Jessee Macapagal, Dijon Moore, and quarterback Brett Judson combined for 225 yards rushing. Judson also threw for 190 yards giving the Dons a total of over 400 yards of offense. Micah McMurray rushed for two touchdowns. Judson threw two touchdowns and rushed for one. Mike Young also had a 76 yard kick return for a touchdown.

 This is the second game in a row that the Dons have scored 42 points. The Dons offense seems to be coming together and being able to move the ball down field through the air. At the beginning of the season, the Dons passing game had trouble causing them to rely heavily on the run. When the run was stopped, they struggled gaining yards and getting first downs. Now that the pass game is starting to improve, the run game is able to be even better because of the passing threat.

The Dons offense isn’t the only key part of their recent success. The defense has been playing solid by creating turnovers and causing pressure. The Dons have forced turnovers in both of their last two games and only given up 36 points. Special teams has also been very good. Mike Young continues to return kicks effectively and has ran a few back for touchdowns. Also kicker Matt Laszuk has been almost automatic with his kicks.

With the Dons on this two game win streak, they have a lot of confidence going into their next game. And it couldn’t be at a better time as the Dons next game is the “Helmet Game” against their cross town rivals, the San Lorenzo Rebels. “We just need to keep practicing hard and do all of our assignments, if we do this, we will win next week and keep the helmet,” quotes senior Brandon O’Connor. The Dons will try to keep the helmet for the fourth year in a row next Saturday, November 7^th at 2:45 pm. The game will take place at Arroyo.

- Staff Reporter Michael roberts

Arroyo's cross country team seeks to perform well at this year's H.A.A.L league meet on November 14, 2009 at Hayward High School.

 The boys' team will have a difficult time scoring points with Castro Valley and Bishop O'Dowd's tough teams. The cross country team will have to look to its younger runners to step up and perform well. Sophomores Adam White, David Hernandez, and Micheal Norman will have to step in and produce for the team. Junior Balbino Mercinal will also play an important role in determine the team's success. Seniors Luis DeGuzman and Andrew Snow will bring a veteran experience that the team will need. Expectations are high for Andrew Snow as he looks to finish in the top three at league after making first team all-league last year. Andrew will have to do well since senior Danny Thomas is out for the season with an injury. Freshman Jeremy Sands is full of potential, but hard work and more experience will determine how he does at the meet. “ I think we will do very good at league this year. I hope we place in the top three. I would like to make all-league. We have four runners that can make either the first or second all-league team. I'm very excited for league and I want to see my times from last year be broken. I'm excited to see how our young runners will do this year” says sophomore Adam White.

 The girls' team will also have to depend heavily on their youth. Sophomores Laura Speigel and Mariza Sibal look to lead the girls team. It is both their first year running cross country so the way they develop over the season is important to the team's success. Freshmen Rosemary Sandino and Rie Osaka will look to make a splash at her first league meet. Veterans Miriam Sandino and Brenda Wong aim to improve upon their performances at last year's league meet. It will be no easy task though since Castro Valley is fielding another one of their traditionally tough teams. Captain Brenda Wong says, “I'm expecting to see our girls work hard, have fun,and do their best. I hope we can have two or three girls make the first or second all-league team. I am very excited to see how much Laura and Mariza will improve. I'm also excited to see how well Rosemary and Rie will finish their cross country seasons as freshmen. I want to see how much our team as a whole can accomplish after a season of hard work and dedication”

The way the team's many young runners develop will play a large role in determining the team's success at the league meet. Coach Bokamper and Coach Eckloff will try to help the team develop more quickly so the team will be able to do well at the league meet.

Last year the Dons cross country team took third at the league meet behind Castro Valley and Bishop O'Dowd.

-Staff Reporter Luiz DeGuzman