Look: Acalanes 35, Birmingham 23 postgame CIF 3-AA title game interviews, slideshow with Cal-bound Trevor Rogers
MISSION VIEJO, CALIFORNIA — Acalanes co-captains Trevor Rogers and Paul Kuhner gathered fellow seniors into their hotel room on Friday night to remind them of the moment. Forget the new surroundings, beach community and fancy treatment.
The Dons were there to make history.
"We talked about how long we've dreamt of this moment," said Rogers, a multi-talented and speedy Cal commit. "We've all been playing football together since middle school and before and now we're here."
As the clock struck zero and the Dons skipped across the field, flinging their pristine white helmets high into the air, the reality seemed better than the dream after a hard-fought 35-23 CIF Division 3-AA title-game victory over a talented and determined Birmingham-Lake Balboa team Saturday afternoon.
(See the entire celebration in the video above plus game slideshow from Joe Bergman)
The Dons (11-4) drew upon their 0-3 start to the season, coming back from a 21-7 early deficit to win their first state crown two weeks after claiming their first North Coast Section title and one week after celebrating their first regional championship.
Paul Kuhner (19) celebrates with teammates after his 10-yard touchdown catch from Sully Bailey clinched the school's first CIF State title with a 35-23 win over Birmingham in the CIF State 3-AA championship game 12-09-2023 at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.
Photo: Joe Bergman
The victory was ultra satisfying, Rogers said, considering the opponent, especially one Peyton Waters, who had eight catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns and six tackles on defense. The Washington commit also had two punts for 83 yards.
"You know how good that guy is," Rogers said. "He was making plays all over the field on offense and defense. He's a great player. It just feels great to win a big time against great competition."
Takes one to know one.
Rogers matched Waters, and even bettered him, with seven catches and 149 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with 11:53 left in the fourth quarter on a perfect 33-yard strike from Sully Bailey (23 of 36, 290 yards, four touchdowns).
Rogers made a tough catch in one-on-one coverage from — yes — Waters who was in perfect position.
"I said in the huddle that if I had press man coverage just pit it up there and I'll make a play for you," Rogers said, noting he hadn't come down with two previous one-on-one chances. "I had to make it up for my quarterback."
The fact Bailey was in the game was another comeback story.
Midway throught the third quarter, he was hit hard on the knee while racing full speed toward a potential first down. Bailey screamed in agony — he said he thought he heard something go 'pop' — but borrowed a knee brace from Kuhner to make it through the fourth quarter.
Acalanes senior wide receiver, cornerback and kicker Trevor Rogers was everywhere on Saturday, including seven catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns.
Photo: Joe Bergman
Later Bailey repaid Kuhner with a 10-yard scoring strike with 31 seconds left to clinch the win. Jack Giorgianni, who also had a key 1-yard TD run just before halftime, and Collin Malmquist had 11 tackles apiece.
"I knew (Bailey) was coming back in," Rogers said. "He lives for games like this. He eats, sleeps and breathes football. He’s an absolute dog, a total gamer."
Besides vivacious and articulate, Rogers is described as a total gamer by his coaches. He and Kuhner have enjoyed plenty of glory well outside of Lafayette, an upscale community about 20 miles east of San Francisco. The two were part of a 400-meter relay team that finished second in the CIF State Meet last May in a blazing time of 40.94 seconds, the fourth fastest time in NCS history.
Their celebration at Saddleback was anything but quick as the duo and the Dons rejoiced with the student body, parents, alumni and community members who made the 400-mile trip.
"This feels great to celebrate with the community," Rogers said. "It was just a great game. It was something. It wasn't how you draw it up to be down 14, but the outcome was just what we wanted."
