The Matadors had already weathered a season of injuries, departures and a tired perception that kids from Orinda can't take a hit and give one too. 

So when they fell behind by 14 points in the North Coast Section Division IV title game, they simply leaned into what they already knew and rallied behind a JV quarterback to stun Hayward 28-21 at Moreau Catholic High. 

Miramonte's comeback capped a season-long transformation under second-year coach Nick Safir, who guided a patched-together roster to the program's 11th section championship. 

"We faced adversity all season long," Safir said. "We had people quit. We had a really, really tough schedule. These guys have heard the narrative all their lives about not winning league games. … We wanted to prove them wrong tonight, and I think we did. I'm so proud of the resiliency of this team and the guys that I got. They banded together to get it done tonight." 

Quarterback Lane Dalton, who got his first start in Miramonte's regular season finale loss to Campolindo a month ago, was a steady presence all night. The sophomore completed 16-of-22 passes for 246 yards and rushed for two touchdowns.  

Running back Jonah Imberg rushed for 111 yards and two scores. 

"I bet most teams have never been through what (we've been through)," Imberg said. "We proved them wrong." 

With a rowdy home crowd behind them, the Farmers looked like they were going to blow the game open early. 

Two rushing touchdowns from junior Lamont McDonald put Hayward up 14-0 early in the second quarter. From there, the "Hayward" chants ensued, with the feeling that one more touchdown could make this lead – in this game – insurmountable. 

But on the sidelines, Miramonte stayed calm and collected. 

The Matadors hearkened back to the times they had to play the likes of Acalanes, Clayton Valley and Campolindo. Moments where they fell just short, not because of effort, but because of execution. 

So as Hayward seemingly found its groove, Miramonte recalibrated. 

Later in the second, Miramonte completed an 11-play drive that ended with a seven-yard rush from Imberg. After getting a key stop on the next Hayward possession, Miramonte tied the game just before halftime on another Imberg run, this time from the half-yard-line to tie the game at 14. 

Just like that, the cheers were now coming from the packed visitor's section wearing green and white. Miramonte, jolted with newfound energy, took back all the momentum it lost in the opening minutes and went into halftime tied with the hometown team.

"We've handled adversity all year, so we just relied on each other," Dalton said of Miramonte's second-quarter surge. 

After each team failed to put points on the board on its first possession of the second half, Miramonte took back the lead just before the third quarter, ending on a one-yard plunge from Dalton. 

Later in the fourth, Miramonte seemingly put the game away when another Dalton sneak gave Miramonte a 28-14 lead with just over seven to go.

But Hayward wasn't done yet. 

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