5 takeaways from De La Salle's 42-14 win over San Ramon Valley

Five takeaways from De La Salle's 42-14 win over San Ramon Valley

1. This De La Salle It's REALLY special.

Like in the golden years. The Spartans are blessed with so many special, speedy game-breakers, which is the essential quality of any high school football team nationally. Their leading runner, Derrick Blanche Jr., is not a speedster, but is still their most effective runner. Right next to him is Dominic Kelley, also not a Blazer, but went untouched for an 81-yard TD tonight. The team's third level of defense, also speedy, isn't prone to giving up big plays.

2. Matthew Johnson and Myah Telona are immobile on defense

Everyone knows Johnson, a 6-6, 270-pound third-year starter headed to Oregon. But Telona (6-2, 275) is just as effective, in part because Johnson gets so much attention. The duo had two sacks each and the Spartans pressured Rhett Thompson all night, totaling seven sacks. Don't be surprised if Telona plays with Johnson at Oregon in 2026.

3. Jaden Jefferson isn't just fast

I've been saying it for a season and a half: The 5-9, 165-pound Jefferson isn't just some quick guy on a football field who makes big plays on deep passes. He hits hard from his cornerback spot and with the ball in his hands it's pure electricity. He did his best Reggie Bush impersonation by making the opening kickoff from 89 yards out, opening the game in absolutely spectacular fashion. Frankly, San Ramon Valley never recovered and wouldn't have if it wanted to. The speed factor was simply too great.

4. Remember Landon Miller, don't sleep on Nico Baumgartner

De La Salle has had some great linebackers in its history, but can't restore many, if any, as rookies. Not even DJ Williams. But Landon Miller, a 6-2, 200-pound ninth-grader, had a performance on some plays that matched the hit of the night that Marco Jones, a San Ramon Valley prospect, made a tackle on Duece Jones-Drew towards the end of the first quarter. Miller almost duplicated the crossing route hit, picking up a receiver and knocking him to the ground on fourth down, inches from him. He later combined with Jefferson for a big hit that stopped a ball carrier in his tracks. Baumgartner, a 6-2, 200-pound outside linebacker who was injured for much of last year, seems to be in every big game. He also had a sack and added his third fumble recovery of the year.

5. Wolves will recover quickly

With 0:35 to play at the start of the second quarter, San Ramon Valley coach Aaron Becker and his team had to cope with a shock. They came into the game 7-0 and outscored their opponents 245-78. But the wolves continued to fight. They got two absolute defensive gems from Jones, and then Thompson, who otherwise had a rough night, stuck with it, throwing really nice TD passes to his two favorite receivers, Evan Economos (35 yards) and Davis-bound Owen Scott (27). play stretch. Sure, they both played against De La Salle backup teams who, frankly, are on par with most teams in the region. I would bet the house, or at least pennies, that San Ramon Valley will be back in the NCS Division I title game.