CONCORD – for De La Salle it was like old times on Friday night. Big crowd. Impressive opponent. And a Jones-Drew who lets the ball run.
Duece Jones-Drew, the sophomore son of Spartans legend and former NFL star Maurice Jones-Drew, sparked the house team's excitement with an electrifying 64-yard touchdown run early in the primary quarter.
Quarterback Toa Faavae then scored two more rushing touchdowns, then defensive back Ant Dean took the ball from the opposing quarterback and ran 33 yards for a touchdown.
De La Salle led by 4 touchdowns at halftime and defeated Sacramento powerhouse Grant 42-14 within the season opener.
On an evening full of big plays and scores for the Bay Area News Group's top-ranked team, Jones-Drew's run on the third snap was probably the most special, because it was the running back's first game for his father's alma mater after sitting out last season with a shoulder injury.
“I have to say, it was a great moment,” said coach Justin Alumbaugh. “We really focus on the joy and the moments we have together. Standing next to Maurice, the smile on his face. I coached Maurice. When I saw Duece and Maurice running down the field like that, I was so happy for his son. I'll remember that for a long time.”
Maurice Jones-Drew is an assistant on Alumbaugh’s staff.
Duece rushed for 100 yards on nine runs. Senior Derrick Blanche rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown on 16 attempts, and Jaden Jefferson rushed 10 times for 56 yards and a touchdown.
“It was a great feeling,” Jones-Drew said of his touchdown run. “But honestly, I can't take all the credit for it. The line blocked so perfectly. All I had to do was run straight. They make my job easier. I want to give them all the credit.”
De La Salle dominated on each side of the ball in the primary half and, despite being sloppy at times after the break, sent Grant home with a loss.
The Spartans scored touchdowns on their first three possessions and compelled punts on Grant's first two series.
Faavae's 21-yard run enabled him to sneak from the 1, making it 14-0 seconds into the second quarter. The quarterback scored again on De La Salle's next series, running across the left end from 9 yards out to increase the result in 21-0.
Then, using a method he learned from watching YouTube videos, Dean took the ball from Grant's quarterback Luke Alexander and raced into the tip zone, securing a 28-0 halftime lead.
“I've had strips before,” Dean said. “But not as open as this one. But I practice it every day. Every day I try a strip. It wasn't really a 'wow,' because I'm used to it. I'm not used to scoring. That was my first varsity touchdown. But I'm used to taking the ball.”
Both teams began the season on Friday with an unfinished business: Both had won regional titles last season, but fell wanting expectations within the state championship games.
Grant opened its season last week with a win over Edison-Stockton.
De La Salle gave the look of a much greater challenge for the tradition-rich Sacramento program, and that was definitely the case. The only area where DLS wasn't on point was his passing game.
“We were physical,” Alumbaugh said. “The runners ran the ball hard. Toa ran the ball hard. We had open passes that we just didn't complete. We completed them all the time in practice. We completed them in the scrimmage. I'm fully confident we're going to throw the ball better than we did tonight.”
Next up for the Spartans: Serra, the reigning NorCal champion who opened his season with a shocking win at Folsom on Friday, visits DLS next Friday.
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