CONCORD – For the past two years, De La Salle watched Serra tower over a region that the Spartans once owned.
The San Mateo school beat Folsom and DLS in 2022 and did so again last season, punctuated by a 28-0 victory over the former Northern California kings.
Expected to take a step back this season after graduating 18 of its 22 starters from a year ago, Serra kicked off the new campaign last week with an upset victory at Folsom.
The outcome made De La Salle’s rematch at home against Serra on Friday night all the more intriguing.
But in the end, there was no suspense.
De La Salle is back on top in NorCal after pulling away from Serra in the second half to win 39-10.
After a shaky start, the Spartans were more dominant in the trenches and faster at the skill positions.
De La Salle’s Derrick Blanche (22) runs 62-yards to score a touchdown against Serra in the fourth quarter of their game at De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. De La Salle defeats Serra 39-10. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
It added up to 322 yards on the ground and six touchdowns for DLS. Derrick Blanche led the home team with 182 yards and a TD in 12 carries.
There are still eight games left in the regular season for DLS, including an October trip to London to play the NFL Academy, plus the playoffs.
But the win Friday gives DLS the inside track to represent Northern California in the Open Division state championship game in December, a game the Concord school has not played in since 2019.
DLS coach Justin Alumbaugh, when asked postgame about the importance of rising back to No. 1 in NorCal, said that his thoughts simply were on restoring the Spartans’ identity.
“The storyline I wanted to focus on was bringing prideful football back to De La Salle,” Alumbaugh said. “I knew if we (brought) prideful football back to De La Salle, then, yeah, we could be the top dog. We have a great St. Francis team coming in next. We need to focus on ourselves and bringing pride back into the way we play the game.
“Through two games and a month of practice and our offseason, I am very proud of what I am seeing.”
De La Salle’s Dominic Kelley (21) runs into the end zone for a touchdown against Serra in the third quarter of their game at De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. De La Salle defeats Serra 39-10. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
De La Salle’s identity thus far has been much of what has led the program to hundreds of victories and numerous championships through the years.
The Spartans aren’t flirting with a spread offense that has stalled their attack in recent seasons.
With standouts on the line and an electric cast of runners in the backfield, DLS is sticking with its roots – the split-back veer.
The option offense looked superb in a 42-14 rout of Grant-Sacramento last week and dominant against Serra on Friday.
Plus, it helps to have motivation. De La Salle had plenty of that Friday.
Two years ago, Serra overcame a two-touchdown deficit in the fourth quarter to win at DLS. Last year in San Mateo, the Padres handed DLS one of its most humbling defeats, a 28-0 decision that the Concord school might never forget.
“These last two years the De La Salle name has been talked about and doubted over and over again,” said Blanche, a senior. “But we never let that steer us off the path of grinding. We always came back to the drawing board and we always continue to work hard. We can’t listen to the outside noise.”
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The challenge now will be whether the Spartans can keep their focus not only next week at home against St. Francis, which ended DLS three-decade unbeaten streak against NorCal opponents in 2021, but through the remainder of the season.
Because as of Friday night, De La Salle is the top dog in NorCal.
And given by the sounds in the storied program’s locker room after the game, the Spartans were feeling petty good about that.
“We still have to keep going,” quarterback Toa Faavae said. “There’s a lot of great teams. St. Francis is next. We have St. Mary’s and El Cerrito. Very talented teams. Tonight celebrate the win. But tomorrow put our heads down and keep on grinding.”
