November 9th 2024.
It was yet another game for De La Salle, and it turned out to be another dominant win. As they faced Clayton Valley in the 20th anniversary since their last tie, it was clear that a repeat was not in the cards. The Spartans, who have only lost once in their section since 1991, were determined to keep their perfect record intact.
The game started off with a bang, as Toa Faavae scored a touchdown on a 55-yard run just 25 seconds into the game. This set the tone for the rest of the night, as De La Salle continued to dominate and eventually walked away with a 49-3 victory, securing their spot in the North Coast Section Open/Division I playoffs.
After Faavae's touchdown, Derrick Blanche followed suit with a 10-yard run of his own, extending the lead to 15-0. And when Dominic Kelley crossed the goal line a short time later, the Spartans were already up 22-0. It was a stark contrast to their last tie with Clayton Valley in 2004, where they only scored 17 points in the entire game.
The rest of the game was much of the same, with De La Salle's offense firing on all cylinders and their defense shutting down Clayton Valley's attempts to score. By halftime, the Spartans had a comfortable 29-3 lead, thanks in part to Blanche's touchdown reception.
In the third quarter, Jaden Jefferson added to the onslaught with a touchdown run, bringing the lead to 36-3. And just when it seemed like the game couldn't get any more lopsided, Robert Williams intercepted a pass and returned it for a 74-yard touchdown on the final play.
The game also had some notable statistical achievements for De La Salle, as Faavae became the first Spartans quarterback to rush for over 2,000 yards in his career. This impressive feat was pointed out by team color analyst Damin Esper during the live stream of the game.
With a perfect 10-0 record in the regular season, the Spartans are now headed to the playoffs. This is their first undefeated regular season since 2018, when they went on to face Mater Dei-Santa Ana in the Open Division state championship game.
On the other side, Clayton Valley ended their season with a 6-4 record. But the Spartans' dominance against NCS opponents remains unmatched, with a record of 275-0-1 since their last loss in a section championship game in 1991.
As the playoff matchups are set to be announced on Sunday, De La Salle is only two wins away from another shot at the state title against perennial powerhouse Mater Dei. But for now, they can enjoy their victory and reflect on a remarkable 10-0 regular season.
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