November 2nd 2024.
Despite not meeting their usual high standards in recent years, the De La Salle Spartans have proven to be a formidable opponent for teams in the East Bay Athletic League. However, this season is a different story for the Concord powerhouse as they have reclaimed their elite status. This was evident in their latest game against California, where they dominated the first half with five touchdowns and continued their dominance in the third quarter.
The Spartans, who are currently ranked number one by the Bay Area News Group, maintained their lead throughout the game, resulting in the second half being played with a running clock. Their impressive performance on the road against the ninth-ranked California team resulted in a final score of 48-10. De La Salle's offense was led by Dominic Kelley, who had two touchdown runs of 2 and 65 yards, and Derrick Blanche, who added two touchdown runs of 12 and 66 yards. Duece Jones-Drew and quarterback Toa Faavae also contributed to the scoreboard with a 10-yard and 3-yard touchdown run respectively.
The Spartans' final touchdown came from Gregory Jones, who ran for a 58-yard score. Despite their strong efforts, California's only touchdown came in the fourth quarter from a 9-yard pass by Arjun Banerjee to Wesley Wineinger. The Grizzlies' only other score came from a 32-yard field goal by Henry Dupin in the first quarter, bringing the score to 6-3 at the time. With this loss, California's record falls to 7-2 for the season.
De La Salle's offensive players put up impressive numbers, with Kelley rushing for 120 yards in just seven carries and Blanche running for 110 yards in five carries. Faavae also had a strong performance, completing 8 of 11 passes for 108 yards, including a perfect 4 for 4 in a two-minute drill just before halftime.
As the regular season comes to a close, De La Salle will face Clayton Valley next Friday before embarking on their journey for a 32nd consecutive North Coast Section championship. Meanwhile, California will travel to Amador Valley before also entering the NCS playoffs. The Spartans have been on a winning streak in their recent games, with an average score of 44-10 against their NCS opponents.
Their dominance within their own section is also evident, with the Spartans boasting an impressive record of 274-0-1 against NCS opponents since their loss to Pittsburg in a title game in December 1991. As they continue their quest for another championship, De La Salle will undoubtedly be a team to watch out for in the upcoming playoffs.
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