The Campolindo football team went into their meeting with Acalanes Friday night looking at the game as a “must-win.” The Cougars played one of their best games of the year as they beat host Acalanes, 38-27. Tommy Stephens, the Campolindo quarterback, proved to be the star as he completed 19 of his 26 passes for 255 yards. He also threw two touchdown passes. The Cougars improved to 3-2 in DFAL play and 5-4 overall. Acalanes dropped to 4-2 in DFAL play and 5-5 overall.

Miramonte won their game against host Dougherty Valley, 14-7, on Friday night. The Matadors improved to 2-3 in DFAL play and 4-5 overall.

According to unofficial election results, Measure G will pass with 74 percent of the voters approving it. It needed two-thirds of the votes in order to pass.

The passing of Measure G ensures an extension of the current Acalanes Union High School District parcel tax. Without the passing of Measure G, the parcel tax would have expired in 2011.

The parcel tax costs taxpayers $189 per year, resulting in $6.7 million for the school district.

Measure G not passing could have potentially been detrimental to the district. Without the parcel tax, the district would be forced to lay off a large number of teachers and cut programs.

When the Moraga-Orinda Fire District Board of Directors extended interim Chief Pete Nowicki’s contract in July through the end of October, it was because they were hoping to have his replacement named by the end of September, giving Nowicki the 3-4 weeks he says he needs to transition the new chief into the job.

Now it’s the middle of November, and the district is still without a new fire chief. But they may be close. Wednesday’s meeting includes a closed session agenda item discussing the appointment of a new chief. That’s not new. They’ve been having these closed session meetings fairly regularly and board members have said they have a leading candidate and have been checking references and negotiating compensation.

But during the open session, there’s an agenda item for “New District Fire Chief Appointment Review And Potential Approval of Employment Contract.” Theoretically, if everything regarding the new fire chief is hammered out in closed session, they could approve his contract in the open session.

That raises the question, if Nowicki needs 3-4 weeks to transition the new chief into the job, and his contract currently is set to expire Nov. 19, will he ask for another extension to give him more time for that transition?

A cast of Orinda Intermediate School students will be performing the play “Peter Pan” from Nov. 10-14. There will be “after school” performances on Tuesday, Nov. 10, and Thursday, Nov. 12, at 4:30 p.m. There will be two performances, at 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., on Friday, Nov. 13. On Saturday, Nov. 14, two performances will take place, starting at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. All performances will take place at OIS.

A total of 74 students are participating as actors in the play, while another 34 students will be on the tech crew.

Tickets are $6 for the “after school” shows. For the other four shows, tickets in the first eight rows are $10, and all other tickets are $8. Tickets can be purchased online (listed under “Bulldog Theater”): https://www.showtix4u.com/index.php?search=ca or at the OIS Box Office before any show.

The Acalanes Union High School District recently selected the recipients of the Su Stauffer Friends of Education Award. The award is given to individuals who have benefited the schools through their commitment to volunteer work.

Su Stauffer was a volunteer who positively impacted the district as much as anyone. During budget cuts in the 1970s, Stauffer helped organize foundations to collect donations to save school programs.

An award recipient is selected for the district and for each of the four schools in the AUHSD.

The recipient of the district award was Judy Carney. The winners for Acalanes, Campolindo and Miramonte were Joni Avery, Dave Pinkham and Ina Paven, respectively.

Acalanes improved to 4-1 in the DFAL after their Friday night victory over Dublin, 35-21. The star of the game was the Dons’ running back Tyler Malley who rushed for 219 yards and scored three touchdowns. If Acalanes can finish the season strong, they could earn one of the top seeds in the NCS playoffs.

Miramonte suffered another DFAL defeat, losing on Friday night to Las Lomas, 35-21. With the loss, the Matadors drop to 1-3 in DFAL play and 3-5 overall. The Matadors are likely to miss the NCS playoffs this year.

Campolindo had a bye this week. Their next game is at Acalanes Friday night, Nov. 6, at 7:00 p.m.

I recently received some criticism from a follower of local high school volleyball for only covering high school football on this blog during the fall season. I agree that our local girls volleyball teams are worthy of some coverage, so here is my first high school volleyball post of the season.

The top of the DFAL standings are all Lamorinda with Miramonte in first, Campolindo in second and Acalanes in third.

Miramonte has been perfect in DFAL play, winning all nine of their matches. They are 16-1 overall and are a favorite to win the NCS Championships.

Campolindo’s main problem has been Miramonte, as the Cougars have gone 7-2 in DFAL play with both losses coming to the Matadors.

Acalanes is 5-3 in DFAL play and is trying hard to hold onto third place in the DFAL.

Campolindo and Acalanes are both likely to make the NCS playoffs where they will hope to get one more chance at knocking off Miramonte.

The Moraga Junior Women’s Club is sponsoring self-defense classes for middle school girls on Nov. 6, 8 and 15. The classes are one hour each and will take place at The Karate & Fitness Place USA in Moraga. For more information or to register for the classes, visit the Moraga Junior Women’s Club website at http://www.moragajuniors.org. The last day to register is Thursday, Oct. 29.

The Lamorinda AAUW Sister to Sister Conference Team is sponsoring an event called “How to Raise a Strong, Independent Daughter and Survive-True Confessions of Mothers of Daughters.” The event will be at JM Intermediate School on Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. A panel of moms from the community will be on hand to discuss how they raised their daughters.

Acalanes proved once again that they are a much improved football team from last year as the Dons knocked off Miramonte, 14-7, in a Friday night DFAL match-up. The game was all tied up at 7-7 until Acalanes quarterbackTyler Caldwell completed a 40-yard touchdown pass to Lucas Levine with only 33 seconds left in the game. Miramonte made a final push to get close, but a last second pass was intercepted by the Dons.

Campolindo got back on track by beating Dublin, 28-21, although the Cougars needed some big plays late to ensure the victory. Quarterback Tommy Stephens scored the game-winning touchdown on a one-yard run with only 1:22 left in the game.

Acalanes High School is currently on lockdown as police believe a burglar is hiding somewhere in the area.

According to police, a man was burglarizing a home in the neighborhood bordering Acalanes when residents of the home returned. The man fled the scene.

Police have set up a perimeter in the neighborhood and are actively searching for the burglar. Police dogs have been brought in to help with the search.

The school will remain on lockdown until police are able to apprehend the suspect or until the area has been determined to be clear and safe.