Nathan Mollat / Daily Journal Aragon quarterback Sam Tuivailala was nearly perfect against San Mateo. He completed 15 of 16 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns in the Dons’ 27-0 win over the Bearcats.

The first couple weeks of the season had some wondering if 2008 was to start a changing of the guard among the public school football teams in the city of San Mateo. Aragon looked less than stellar in starting 0-3 and San Mateo looked impressive in its first two games. Friday’s non-division game was expected to be close — or at least closer than in recent years. Some things never change.

Aragon 27, San Mateo 0.

While the final score was closer than in previous years, one could argue the host Dons’ victory was every bit as thorough as their wins from ’04-06, when the scores, in order, went 56-20, 54-7 and 49-19.

Aragon (1-3) held San Mateo (2-1) to just 39 yards of total offense and two first downs — yes, two — the entire game. The Dons eclipsed both of those marks on their opening drive.

The numbers said it all, and they were sobering stats for the Bearcats, whose six possessions consisted of four three-and-outs while another drive ended in an interception. Meanwhile, Aragon was busy rolling up 400 yards of offense, scoring on four of its seven drives. How dominant were the Dons? They could’ve easily gone a perfect 7-for-7.

Two of their drives ended inside San Mateo’s 10-yard line, and they were marching for another score inside Bearcats’ territory when time expired.

Aragon’s Sam Tuivailala had a day to remember, completing 15-of-16 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns. The yardage total is believed to be the highest by an Aragon quarterback in the last seven years.

A first-year varsity player, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior displayed a feathery touch in making all the throws. His lone miscue was a third-quarter interception in the end zone. Other than that, he was perfect. When relayed the stats afterwards, both Tuivailala and Dons coach Steve Sell soaked the moment in, knowing games like this don’t come along often.

“I like the feeling,” Tuivailala said. “As I was playing I kind of felt that I hadn’t missed one (a pass). I had great communication with my receivers and my offensive line played great. We were clicking and the ball was moving. This is a overwhelming win for our team. We’ve been waiting for this for a long time.”

Indeed, as mediocre as the Dons looked in losses to Pioneer, Los Gatos and Lincoln-San Jose to start the season, they looked like worldbeaters against the Bearcats, who entered the game hoping to win or at the very least make things close. Earlier in the week Sell said the talent level between the teams was so close that whoever executed better would win.

Well, yes and no. Aragon certainly executed better because while the talent gap between the schools may not have been as extreme compared to past years, it’s still pretty wide. San Mateo’s nice start didn’t last. It surprised Aragon by executing an onside kick on the game’s opening kickoff. The Bearcats had the ball at the Dons’ 46, but on the first play from scrimmage quarterback Mitch Labbie was sacked by Sifa Tonga, one of five Aragon sacks on the day.

That led to a three-and-out and for all intents and purposes was the beginning of the end. The Dons went 85 yards on nine plays on their opening drive, capped by an Isaiah Harris 5-yard TD run. After another San Mateo three-and-out, Aragon showed this isn’t your typical Dons’ squad.

Known for generating most of its offense on the ground, this year’s Aragon’s team has the capability to put on an aerial assault. Tuivailala hooked up with Alex Sortwell for a 33-yard gain to start the team’s second possession. Ten plays later, the two connected again, this time for a 9-yard TD.

Tuivailala rolled to his right and hit Sortwell (three catches, 59 yards) in-stride as the receiver was running toward the right pylon. Of Tuivailala’s 15 completions, 12 of them went for 10 yards or more.

The Dons scored one more time before halftime when Tuivailala threw a perfect fade pass to Josh Fale on the right side, a 19-yard play that made it 20-0 with 15 seconds left in the quarter. Fale finished with seven receptions for 112 yards. Athletic, quick and agile, the 6-1, 180-pound Fale simply jumped over San Mateo cornerbacks at times to make catches. He also intercepted a Labbie pass at his 1 midway through the second quarter, foiling the Bearcats’ best drive of the game. Even though Aragon doesn’t have a Division I-type caliber tailback as it has had in the last several years, its running game is still dangerous. Harris scored two TDs, gaining 99 yards on 20 carries. Fullback Matu’u Pulotu had 56 yards on nine carries, all in the first half.

And the running holes were there for most of the way, courtesy of a powerful offensive line. The Bearcats couldn’t do much, but George Naufahu had 50 yards on eight carries, while linebacker Patrick Latu was a force defensively. He had a game-high five tackles for losses, and recovered his own forced fumble that stonewalled a potential Aragon score. Once again, it was complete domination by the Dons, who played stifling defense. Tonga, Patrick Moore, Nick Franquez and Ofa Mau led the way. Sell said he needed a more complete and consistent performance from his players, and that’s exactly what he got.

“We tackled better, we did everything better,” he said. “It’s a cliche but our guys really needed a win. (With the 0-3 start) it hasn’t been real pleasant around here. (The losses) grated on everybody, and the tension was high. It would’ve been a horrible two weeks (Aragon has a bye next week) if we had lost this game.”