Grant football players involved in campus fight, but De La Salle game still on

An undisclosed number of Grant High School football players were part of a parking lot fight on the Del Paso Heights campus before practice Tuesday afternoon, a scene that included males that were not affiliated with the school and the father of one of the Pacers, who hustled over to help his son who had been jumped, according to several sources familiar with the incident who were not authorized to speak publicly.

The fight put Friday night’s home game against the state’s top-ranked team in De La Salle of Concord in jeopardy as Grant administrators and coaches tried to make sense of what happened, Twin Rivers Unified School District superintendent Steven Martinez on Thursday afternoon approved continuing on with the game. It was not immediately known if any Grant players have been suspended.

There was discussion that the nonleague showdown of Northern California powerhouse programs would move to De La Salle in Contra Costa County. Had the game not been played, Grant would have forfeited, meaning a victory for De La Salle and a lost opportunity for the Pacers and their fans, who have passionately backed the football program for decades. Money raised from ticket sales at Grant home games help fund the entire athletic program, and games allow the school to showcase its football players and nationally recognized drum line, cheerleaders and dance team.

The Twin River District confirmed in a statement to The Sacramento Bee on Wednesday afternoon that there was an after-school fight, writing: “Grant Union High School was placed on lockdown Tuesday afternoon following an altercation between students and the disruptive actions of unauthorized individuals who came onto the campus. Law enforcement responded immediately ensuring the safety of students and staff. Two individuals—one adult and one juvenile—were taken into custody and appropriate legal actions are being pursued.”

The statement concluded, “The District is reviewing the incident to determine disciplinary measures in accordance with district policies to ensure a safe learning environment for all students and staff.”

Grant coach Carl Reed confirmed that the game was on but did not comment further. De La Salle coach Justin Alumbaugh told The Bee that he is pleased to have this game as he has long appreciated the tradition of the Pacers, who remain the only public school in the state to win the elite CIF State Open Division game, doing so in 2008 under famed coach Mike Alberghini.

"Their program is top notch," Alumbaugh said. "We had a team drop a game on us, and I called coach Carl Reed. He said 'Absolutely,' so I'm glad to play the game."

The upcoming showdown has been in the making for years. The schools played for the first time last season in Concord, a De La Salle victory. De La Salle is the most accomplished prep football program in state history, whether measured by record-setting winning streaks or championships won.

A forfeit would have been “horrible”

Alumbaugh said a forfeit would have "been horrible." He added, "That would not be good for the kids for either school. You only get 10 high school football games. It's not like baseball or basketball."

Alumbaugh said he and the Spartans look forward to soaking in the Grant home-crowd atmosphere, including the Pacers drum line. He said he will instruct his film crew to keep the film rolling at halftime to catch the drum line.

"Flip on the camera! We want to see the drumline!" Alumbaugh said.

De La Salle’s last visits to Sacramento

The Spartans last played in the Sacramento region in 2022, a 36-20 victory at Monterey Trail in the Elk Grove Unified School District. De La Salle’s first regular-season visit to Sacramento was in 1987, a triumph over Valley High, and the next area trip was in 1998 when the Spartans beat Nevada Union in Grass Valley.

De La Salle played for three CIF State championships when that event was hosted at Sacramento State, including a state crown in 2015.

Grant’s up-and-down season

Grant’s season of promise took a hit before the first snap of the season when pregame antics in a season opener against Bee No. 1-ranked Folsom resulted in two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, and more were assessed in the first half. Folsom rolled 51-13 in the game aired nationally on ESPN.

Twin Rivers District athletic director Micah Simmons said days later of the antics, “We are addressing them with our coaches and student-athletes, reinforcing our commitment to respect, integrity, and character. We will always strive to do better because sports are about more than the game.”

A three-time defending CIF Sac-Joaquin Section and Northern California champion with two CIF state crowns since 2022, Grant is 2-2 this season. The Pacers are scheduled to play at Lincoln of San Diego on Sept. 27.

This story was originally published September 18, 2025 at 3:05 PM.