LAFAYETTE – Reminders of Amin Noroozi – the bubbly, ambitious, beloved 17-year-old Acalanes student who died from injuries sustained during a swimming accident in April – were everywhere as the Lafayette school played its first football game of the season on Friday night.
A blue heart with “AMIN” emblazoned on the 25-yard-line. His No. 51 helmet carried out to midfield for the pregame coin toss by team captain River Lockwood.
A tearful speech given over the loudspeaker after the Dons’ defense took to the field for its first series. Noroozi’s jersey, framed and pristine, displayed by the home team’s bench.
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But it was not just his name and number that were honored by Acalanes.
The Dons, with heavy but determined hearts, played with the kind of dogged and intense effort Noroozi would have been proud of in a 33-12 victory over Archbishop Mitty.
“This is for Amin, we’re doing this for Amin,” star linebacker Deonte Littlejohn said, adding, “He always had a smile on his face, and when there wasn’t, that was because there was somebody lined up on the other side of the ball.”
Acalanes student athletes greet Payman Noroozi the father of their former teammate Amin, who died at the age of 17, after defeating Archbishop Mitty at Acalanes High School in Lafayette, CA on Friday, Aug. 28, 2025. Acalanes defeated Mitty 33-12 for the season opener. (Don Feria for Bay Area News Group)
Acalanes’ offense overcame three interceptions and a safety, buoyed by a defense that featured senior safety and surprise star Grant Ricker.
Playing in his first game at defensive back against Mitty, the 6-foot-2 ballhawk grabbed three interceptions and helped hold the San Jose private school to just four completions on 19 attempts and a paltry 45 yards.
“I was confident, because I just rallied behind my teammates,” Ricker said. “When I didn’t know what to do, I could rely on them.”
In Joel Isaac’s first game as head coach after longtime coach Floyd Burnsed’s departure following Acalanes’ trip to a 2024 NorCal title game, the inspired Dons ripped out to a 14-0 lead.
Junior quarterback Tyler Winkles capped his first drive with a five-yard bullet to Cody Michlitsch for a touchdown, and then Josh Elerts rumbled in from nine yards out to close out a three-play drive.
Acalanes Senior Grant Ricker gains yardage against visiting Archbishop Mitty at Acalanes High School in Lafayette, CA on Friday, Aug. 28, 2025. Acalanes defeated Mitty 33-12 for the season opener. (Don Feria for Bay Area News Group)
But with all of the momentum on Acalanes’ side, the Monarchs showed the “Gritty Mitty” ethos the program has become known for under coach Danny Sullivan.
Senior running back Lazaro Faraj-Washington powered for tough yardage behind crushing blocks by linemen such as Chase Graff, Andres Nava and others. Graff made a 27-yard field goal, and then got a safety after a long snap flew over Winkles’ head on a punt to make it 14-5.
Once Mitty quarterback Joseph Engin faked everyone out on play-action and hit Kai Sniffen on a 34-yard dart up the seam, it was suddenly 14-12 after one quarter.
For a brief moment, Mitty looked like the team that started last season 3-0.
But that would be it for the Mitty scoring, even as Sniffen, Grant Siripoke and Ethan Chase each gave the offense short fields with interceptions, but Sullivan was still encouraged by the fight his team showed.
“We had our moments, and we had our chances,” said Sullivan, whose team is coming off a 4-6 season in the tough West Catholic Athletic League. “In the past, some Mitty teams may have said it was 14-0 and that we’re going to quit. We didn’t. We fought, and just ran out of steam.”
Archbishop Mitty running back Lazaro Faraj-Washington breaks the tackle against hosting Acalanes High School in Lafayette, CA on Friday, Aug. 28, 2025. Acalanes defeated Mitty 33-12 for the season opener. (Don Feria for Bay Area News Group)
The Dons took a 20-12 lead into halftime after Winkles concluded a 14-play, 76-yard drive with a perfect fade pass to Ricker for a four-yard score.
The Dons then opened the third quarter with a drive that ended with a 57-yard Winkles to Finley Rivera touchdown connection down the middle for a 26-12 advantage, and Mitty was unable to close the gap before Elerts ran in for his second touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
Winkles threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns, and Rivera caught six passes for 153 yards while Elerts ran for 50 yards.
Faraj-Washington, whose Monarchs will face Wilcox next week, carried the ball 23 times for 119 yards for a Mitty offense that found little room to operate against a defense that knew how to play gaps.
“It’s not about doing anything spectacular,” Isaac said before turning his attention to next week’s game against Menlo-Atherton. “If you do your job, good things happen. Fundamentals, doing your job, We don’t need anything other than that.”
Long after the final whistle blew and Acalanes improved to 1-0, the Noroozi family, donning blue shirts with Amin’s name spelled out, embraced one another by his framed jersey.
Ofelia Noroozi remembered her son as an outgoing kid who loved sports and was “extremely funny.” After convincing his parents to allow him to play tackle football, Amin became part of a team that, even after his passing, is still supporting the family as it dedicates the season to his memory.
“This community and this group of boys and this group of people are extraordinary,” Ofelia Noroozi told this news organization. “We have felt nothing but love since Day One, and to see it materialize like this, there really are no words.
“Just gratitude and love.”
Former student athlete Amin Noroozi remembered on a t-shirt during the home opener is against Archbishop Mitty at hosting Acalanes High School in Lafayette, CA on Friday, Aug. 28, 2025. Acalanes lead Mitty 20-12 at halftime. (Don Feria for Bay Area News Group)
Acalanes Head Coach Joel Isaac watches his team against Archbishop Mitty hosting Acalanes High School in Lafayette, CA on Friday, Aug. 28, 2025. Acalanes defeated Mitty 33-12 for the season opener. (Don Feria for Bay Area News Group)
Acalanes and Archbishop Mitty captains start the game at hosting Acalanes High School in Lafayette, CA on Friday, Aug. 28, 2025. Acalanes lead Mitty 20-12 at halftime. (Don Feria for Bay Area News Group)
Junior quarterback Tyler Winkles looks downfield against Archbishop Mitty at hosting Acalanes High School in Lafayette, CA on Friday, Aug. 28, 2025. Acalanes lead Mitty 20-12 at halftime. (Don Feria for Bay Area News Group)
Senior Luca Potts celebrates a first half touchdown against Archbishop Mitty hosting Acalanes High School in Lafayette, CA on Friday, Aug. 28, 2025. Acalanes lead Mitty 20-12 at halftime. (Don Feria for Bay Area News Group)
Seniors River Lockwood, right, and Cody Michlitsch, left, celebrate a touchdown against Archbishop Mitty at hosting Acalanes High School in Lafayette, CA on Friday, Aug. 28, 2025. Acalanes lead Mitty 20-12 at halftime. (Don Feria for Bay Area News Group)
Junior Finley Rivera drives downfield against Archbishop Mitty at hosting Acalanes High School in Lafayette, CA on Friday, Aug. 28, 2025. Acalanes lead Mitty 20-12 at halftime. (Don Feria for Bay Area News Group)
Archbishop Mitty Head Coach Danny Sullivan huddles with his team during a time out at hosting Acalanes High School in Lafayette, CA on Friday, Aug. 28, 2025. Acalanes defeated Mitty 33-12 for the season opener. (Don Feria for Bay Area News Group)
Acalanes Senior Grant Ricker drives downfield after a pick against Archbishop Mitty at Acalanes High School in Lafayette, CA on Friday, Aug. 28, 2025. Acalanes defeated Mitty 33-12 for the season opener. (Don Feria for Bay Area News Group)
Acalanes Junior Daniel Dunne, right, celebrates with teammate Bryce Birdsong, left, during the final seconds against Archbishop Mitty at Acalanes High School in Lafayette, CA on Friday, Aug. 28, 2025. Acalanes defeated Mitty 33-12 for the season opener. (Don Feria for Bay Area News Group)
Senior Quarterback Joseph Engin, right, from Archbishop Mitty hands off to junior Nick Evangelista, left, against hosting Acalanes High School in Lafayette, CA on Friday, Aug. 28, 2025. Acalanes defeated Mitty 33-12 for the season opener. (Don Feria for Bay Area News Group)