LAFAYETTE – Reminders of Amin Noroozi –the bubbly, ambitious, beloved 17-year-old Acalanes student who tragically died due to 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.

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

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