Live score, updates from the football duel in California

Last season suggested that the San Ramon Valley football team may have filled the void in De La Salle's legendary program.

So does San Ramon Valley’s 7-0 start to the season.

Unfortunately for the Wolves, that didn't carry over into Friday's showdown between the state-ranked and undefeated teams, as the host Spartans (7-0) jumped out to a 35-0 lead early in the second quarter and a 42-14 achieve victory.

Jaden Jefferson, a speedy and talented junior two-way player, set the tone with a spectacular 89-yard opening kickoff return for a touchdown and the Spartans moved to 25-0-1 against the Wolves last Year before the start of both meetings, the team led the fourth quarter.

After Jefferson's touchdown, the Wolves fumbled a handoff three plays later, Niko Baumgartner recovered and Duece Jones-Drew scored two plays later, making it 13-0 with less than two minutes left.

Derrick Blanche Jr. added a 13-yard touchdown run, Dominic Kelley contributed rushing scores of 4 and 81 yards and middle linebacker Bubba Vargas contributed a 29-yard pick from 6. Combined with seven sacks on quarterback Rhett Thompson — two each from Matthew Johnson and Myah Telona — and the Spartans were in control throughout.

To their credit, Thompson and the Wolves (7-1) never gave up, and he threw touchdown passes to Evan Economos and Owen Scott to make the score respectable.

Although San Ramon Valley has never beaten De La Salle – the two teams tied once in the 1970s – the two Northern California powers have played some closely contested games recently, including two games last season.

They expect to play one more game Friday night starting at 7 p.m. at Owen Owens Field in Concord in one of the best games in the state.

De La Salle (6-0), which earned a unique 31-9 win over NFL Academy in London 10 days ago, is ranked sixth in the state by SBLive Sports, while San Ramon Valley (7-0) is ranked Sixth place is. 23.

The Spartans won two close games last season, 33-27 in overtime at San Ramon Valley and 17-7 in the North Coast Section Open playoff final.

TOP PROSPECTS: Marco Jones leads 16 of them between SRV and DLS

SRV is led by LB/TE Marco Jones (379 tackles), DE Kaleb Pleis (10.5 sacks), QB Rhett Thompson (88 of 133, 1,434 yards, 21 TDs), RB Matt Garibaldi (660 rushing yards, 9 TDs) and wideouts Owen Scott (34 catches, 479 yards, 7 TDs) and Evan Economos (18, 427, 7).

De La Salle, one of the fastest teams in the state, features third-year starting QB Toa Faavae (10 total touchdowns), third-year starting RBs Derrick Blanche Jr. (656 rushing yards, 6 TDs) and Dominic Kelley (286 , 7), fast two-way stars Jaden Jefferson, Jayden Nicholas, Duece Jones-Drew and Ant Dean as well as strong defenders Matt Johnson (Oregon committed), Niko Baumgartner and Myah Telona.

Follow here for live updates from the game, scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. PT on Friday, October 18th.

You can also watch San Ramon Valley vs. De La Salle on NFHS Network

(Refresh for live updates as soon as the game launches; the latest updates appear above)

FOURTH QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN SAN RAMON VALLEY! Rhett Thompson 27-yard touchdown pass to Owen Scott. De La Salle 42, San Ramon Valley 14. 5:35 4Q.

THIRD QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN SAN RAMON VALLEY: Rhett Thompson's 35-yard touchdown pass to Evan Economos, who had four touchdowns against DLS in the last three meetings. De La Salle 42, San Ramon Valley 7. 3:05 3Q.

THERE'S DOMINIC KELLEY! De La Salle running back sprints 81 yards, perhaps untouched. De La Salle 42, San Ramon Valley 0.

SECOND QUARTER

Half-time result: Despite three interceptions by San Ramon Valley, including a spectacular one by Marco Jones, De La Salle led 35-0 at halftime.

BIG HIT! De La Salle FRESHMAN Landon Miller with a huge hit stopped the SRV ball carrier half a meter short on fourth down.

TOUCHDOWN DE LA SALLE! Dominic Kelley ends the 14-play, 72-yard drive with a 4-yard TD. De La Salle 35, San Ramon Valley 0.

FIRST QUARTER

BIG HIT! From who else, Marco Jones, SRV's 4-star LB with a big lead over Duece Jones-Drew. Ouch.

CHOOSE 6 DE LA SALLE! Center fielder Bubba Vargas with a 29-yard interception return for a touchdown. Yes. Barely half of the first quarter. 2-point conversion pass from Faavae to Jaden Jefferson. De La Salle 28, SRV 0.

Bubba Vargas' 29-yard interception returns the score. De La Salle 28, San Ramon Valley 0. 5:25 1Q. This is not a misprint. There were three interceptions on the last three passes. pic.twitter.com/BByUu10z4i

— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) October 19, 2024

TOUCHDOWN DE LA SALLE AGAIN! Derrick Blanche Jr. with a 13-yard touchdown run after a short punt. De La Salle 20, SRV 0. 6:50 1Q. XP blocked.

We've seen this show before. The showdown in the Big Bay Area and De La Salle is on. Derrick Blanche Jr. sprints in from 13 yards out. De La Salle 20, San Ramon Valley 0. 6:50 1Q. Great call as always from Pat O'Rourke with Damin Esper. Courtesy of DLS TV and NFHS Network. pic.twitter.com/WP6lZTqHsu

— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) October 19, 2024

TOUCHDOWN DE LA SALLE! After just five games, De La Salle has scored two touchdowns. A botched rally was made up for by Niko Baumgartner – that kid has been everywhere all season – and two plays later Duece Jones-Drew shot the ball into the goal from five yards out. De La Salle 14, SRV 0. 10:25 1Q.

After a fumble recovery by Niko Baumgartner, Duece sets up Jones-Drew for a 5-yard TD run. Five plays in the game, DLS 14, SRV 0. 10:35 1Q. What a start for De La Salle. pic.twitter.com/gyDWN1LYub

— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) October 19, 2024

OPENING KICKOFF TOUCHDOWN! The remarkable Jaden Jefferson with a spectacular opening kickoff return of 89 yards. De La Salle 7, San Ramon Valley 0. 11:41.

Jaden Jefferson! Wow! 89-yard opening kickoff return for a touchdown for De La Salle over San Ramon Valley. Electric! De La Salle 7, San Ramon Valley 0. 11:41 1Q. pic.twitter.com/Cz9Lnr36Z3

— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) October 19, 2024