De La Salle does it again; Spartans top Folsom Bulldogs in CIF NorCal championship game
When it was over, with steam rising from from the sweaty heads of players on both sides, there were tears and hugs. No one wanted to leave.
The emotions were thick for the winners, the De La Salle Spartans, who wrote some of the most prominent chapters on achievement in California prep football history over the past 40 years.
They rejoiced in their 17-14 victory over Folsom on Friday night in a rematch of the 2021 CIF Northern California Division I-AA finals. Players and coaches spoke about how the journey here included speed bumps and detours, but the ride back to Contra Costa County promised to be a festive one. So will the ride to Southern California to play for another CIF state championship.
As his players huddled around him in the chilly night air at Prairie City Stadium, Folsom coach Paul Doherty told his Bulldogs to go hug someone, anyone, and to appreciate getting here again, and so they did.
De La Salle (10-3) came in having won six consecutive games, slowly finding itself amid a rash of injuries and opponents who had worked years to close the gap on the Spartans. DLS suffered three losses to NorCal teams this campaign for the first time since 1979. One of those setbacks was a 24-20 loss to Folsom (12-2) back on Sept. 23 after a late touchdown in the final seconds.
There would be no such magic this time as the Spartans dominated the line of scrimmage and time of possession. They expertly ran out the final 7:54 of the game with power running out of their vaunted veer attack after Folsom scored the final points on a Ryder Lyons 1-yard run. It was 17-7 following a scoreless third quarter. Folsom’s only other points came on Greco Carrillo’s 45-yard fumble return for a 7-0 lead.
DLS leads Folsom 6-2 in an all-time series that started in 2012, including NorCal title wins in 2012 and 2013, when the Bulldogs marched in sporting a 14-0 record.
“Our kids invested a lot and they hurt,” Doherty said. “I wish we played better. I’d be happier, but those guys (DLS) are just incredible. They’re really good, great, and they’re really well coached.”
He added, “These guys are crying because they were so close and they expected to win. That hasn’t always been the case against De La Salle, so it’s disappointing for sure.”
De La Salle tied it at 7-7 when Derrick Blanche ran it in from five yards out, and then the Spartans took the lead on a 39-yard field goal by Spencer Brien with 1:42 left in the first half. Charles Greer made it 17-7 with a 6-yard run with 36 seconds left in the half, and the defense did the rest in bottling up the prolific Bulldogs, who came in after winning their 11th Sac-Joaquin Section championship and ninth since 2010. Greer rushed 29 times for 114 yards and Blanche had 17 carries for 101 yards. De La Salle registered six sacks and allowed just 38 yards rushing and 127 yards passing.
DLS coach Justin Alumbaugh told The Sacramento Bee earlier in the week that NorCal football “has never been better” and the challenge to win has become all the more difficult. But that’s a good thing, the coach said. After Friday’s victory, he praised his team’s resolve. Losing three games in any DLS season is a jolt to alums or fans, some of whom insisted the Spartans were in decline.
Not so fast.
Folsom will play DLS next regular season, and it will play Serra of San Mateo again, too. Serra is 13-0 and will play national No. 1 Bosco of Bellflower next week in the prestigious CIF State Open Division final. Serra beat Folsom 17-12 earlier this season.
“This group of players, coaches — everybody — went through a lot of criticism,” Alumbaugh said. “After a rough start to the year, we battled injuries, we battled criticism, and rather than fold or start bickering, or getting divisions on the team, we came together more than ever.”
He added, “This is a really good group of young men. They’ve really reinstilled a lot of our culture, the seniors especially. I told them last night at our team dinner that I’m their No. 1 fan. I want them to see the success that I think they deserve and we got success tonight. I’m happy to see those boys smiling. It’s gratifying.”
Folsom will graduate a lot of talent but will also return a ton, too, including 6-foot-6 quarterback Austin Mack, a national recruit, and rising star receiver Brian Ray. The Folsom freshman team went 10-0 and the junior varsity team also had a championship season.
“We’ll be back,” Doherty said.
This story was originally published December 2, 2022 at 11:38 PM.