UPDATE: In a stunning display of dominance, the De La Salle Spartans crushed the San Ramon Valley Wolves 42-0 in a North Coast Section Open/Division I playoff game on November 10, 2023. This decisive victory secures De La Salle’s spot in the championship round, where they will face either the second-seeded Pittsburg or seventh-seeded Liberty.
The Spartans, ranked as the top team in Northern California, wasted no time establishing their superiority. Just moments into the game, Jaden Jefferson electrified the crowd with a 53-yard kickoff return, setting the tone for a relentless offensive onslaught.
Following a false start penalty, Duece Jones-Drew, making his return after weeks away, dashed for a 30-yard touchdown run, putting De La Salle ahead early. By halftime, the Spartans had built a commanding lead of 28-0, with touchdowns from Emery Speight and Jefferson further extending their advantage.
Despite some penalty setbacks, De La Salle scored on four of their first five possessions, showcasing their explosive offense. Jefferson, who is also the state’s 100-meter champion, added to his impressive tally with a second touchdown run, covering 5 yards.
“We came out strong and made our intentions clear from the start,” said De La Salle head coach.
As the second half began, Jefferson struck again, sprinting 35 yards for his third touchdown, pushing the score to 35-0. Jack Dimalanta capped the scoring with a 7-yard run, solidifying De La Salle’s impressive performance.
Defensively, the Spartans were equally formidable, with Cameron Shepherd intercepting a pass in the end zone, thwarting San Ramon Valley’s best scoring opportunity late in the fourth quarter.
This victory marks an incredible 27-0-1 all-time record for De La Salle against San Ramon Valley and extends their unbeaten streak against North Coast Section opponents to 282-0-1 since their last loss in 1991. The Wolves, seeded eighth, conclude their season at 6-5.
Looking ahead, De La Salle aims for their 33rd consecutive section title next week, with fans eager to see if they can maintain their perfect season. The matchup against either Pittsburg or Liberty promises to be a thrilling contest as the Spartans continue their quest for championship glory.
