CIF Open Division Preview: De La Salle vs. St. John Bosco
Photo by Cliff Jackson
Spartans Looking for 4th Straight Title
By Chris Jackson Friday December 20, 2013
CARSON, CA-The California State Championship is on the line,
where some high school careers will end, and dreams will be created, and nothing
will satisfy the Spartans more than coming out atop the massive state of California.
“I want to go out right,”said Velasco. “Everyone wants to go out
right. All the sophomores and juniors are doing it for the seniors. That’s been
our main goal since February.”
Last week’s victory over national ranked Folsom proved that De
La Salle can hang with anyone in the state, especially after forcing three
interceptions on four-star junior Jake Browning, who holds offers from Boise
State, Utah, and both the major Washington schools.
In 2012, the Spartans defeated Folsom as well in the Northern
California championship. But this year’s victory was over a stronger, more
powerful teams, making the victory even more satisfying.
“It’s a great feeling right now,” said senior running back John
Velasco after defeating Folsom. “We’re going to get a test in St. John
Bosco.”
Velasco has drawn his name into the spotlight behind one of the
top lines in California, rushing for almost 2000 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Backfield mate, sophomore Antoine Custer, has surpassed 1100 yards on the ground.
Bosco comes into the title game ranked number one in California,
with De La Salle following. On Saturday, they romped Centennial (Corona) 70-49.
They held the impractical quarterback Robert Webber to just 61 rushing yards and
no touchdown passes while forcing an interception.
Sophomore Sean McGrew rushed for an astounding 372 yards and 6
touchdowns and has established himself among the elite running backs in the
class of 2016. McGrew upped his season totals to over 1900 yards and 21
touchdowns, averaging above 10 yards per carry.
Alongside McGrew, the college level talent is surplus on the
Bosco roster. Athlete Jaleel Wadood has committed to UCLA, linebacker Chandler
Leniu to Washington State, defensive back Najiel Hale to Arizona, wide receiver
Shay Fields to USC, defensive end Malik Dorton to USC as the seniors already
committed to universities.
Multiple seniors headline the class of 2014 in the ESPN 300:
6’4”, 370 lb. monster offensive lineman Damien Mama at #54 (uncommitted),
defensive end Malik Dorton at #215 (USC) and athlete Jaleel Wadood at #297 (UCLA).
There isn’t much of a drop off in the junior class either.
Quarterback Josh Rosen is rated as the number one quarterback in the class of
2015 and 16thranked overall player in the nation for his graduating
class on ESPN’s recruiting rankings. Rosen has thrown for 3000 yards and 37
touchdowns along with 340 yards rushing.
Currently, Rosen holds offers from Akron, Cal, Duke, Fresno
State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon State, Tennessee, Texas, UCLA, USC, Utah,
Vanderbilt, and Virginia.
Offensive lineman Zach Robertson is also among the ESPN 300 for
2015 coming in at #248.
Line play is as equal as it gets on both sides. With the names
on St. John Bosco mentioned, De La Salle features Oregon State commit Sumner
Houston, Kahlil McKenzie (the son of Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie,
Boss Tagaloa, Larry Allen Jr. (the son of Hall of Famer Larry Allen) and Larry Ross.
Former head coach Bob Ladoucer, who racked up 399 victories in
his tenure with De La Salle, now remains in the program helping out and teaching
the lines. Justin Alumbaugh has taken over the regime, doing
tremendous job being the heir to Ladoucer, leading the Spartans to a 14-0
record and NCS along with a NorCal title.
“He’s great, Coach Alumbaugh is great,” McKenzie said. “There’s
been no drop off and nonsense.”
Stressing ball security has been of the upmost importance after
the Folsom game, as they have totaled over 30 fumbles, losing 17 of them.
Discipline will be italicized as well, and penalties and
mistakes against a team like Bosco can come back to haunt you down the stretch,
and could ultimately cost you the state championship against a southern
California program as dominant as the Braves.
“All the fumbles and penalties,” McKenzie said. “We’ve got to
work on that stuff and we were on the field too much on defense so we’ve got to
get that shaped up.”
With both ranked among the top 5 nationally, this is the most
hyped about state championship this season, and the most since the state bowl
system was implemented.
“It’s a lot of excitement, I’m really excited
about it,” said junior lineman Kahlil McKenzie. “Show them what we’ve got and
ball out for De La Salle.”
The road to Carson featured tremendous programs, but for St.
John Bosco, it was a lot tougher. Competing in the inhuman Trinity league is a
test unlike any other. The Trinity League also contains Mater Dei, Orange
Lutheran, Santa Margarita, Serra Catholic and Servite.
Bosco stormed opponents in league play, outscoring them 212-66
during the regular season, including steamrolling Mater Dei by a combined 58-9
in two matchups, including a 34-7 romp in the Pac-5 Southern Section Championship.
Although Bosco is the toughest and fiercest test the Spartans
will face, practice will be a replica of every other weeks, and will prepare as
they do against any other opponent.
“We’re going to prepare like we do every other week,” said
McKenzie. “We’re just going to get ready for them and just go down there and hit.”
Check out the highlights below from last weeks NorCal Championship and interviews by our friends at ncaanow.com
CARSON, CA-The California State Championship is on the line,
where some high school careers will end, and dreams will be created, and nothing
will satisfy the Spartans more than coming out atop the massive state of California.
“I want to go out right,”said Velasco. “Everyone wants to go out
right. All the sophomores and juniors are doing it for the seniors. That’s been
our main goal since February.”
Last week’s victory over national ranked Folsom proved that De
La Salle can hang with anyone in the state, especially after forcing three
interceptions on four-star junior Jake Browning, who holds offers from Boise
State, Utah, and both the major Washington schools.
In 2012, the Spartans defeated Folsom as well in the Northern
California championship. But this year’s victory was over a stronger, more
powerful teams, making the victory even more satisfying.
“It’s a great feeling right now,” said senior running back John
Velasco after defeating Folsom. “We’re going to get a test in St. John
Bosco.”
Velasco has drawn his name into the spotlight behind one of the
top lines in California, rushing for almost 2000 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Backfield mate, sophomore Antoine Custer, has surpassed 1100 yards on the ground.
Bosco comes into the title game ranked number one in California,
with De La Salle following. On Saturday, they romped Centennial (Corona) 70-49.
They held the impractical quarterback Robert Webber to just 61 rushing yards and
no touchdown passes while forcing an interception.
Sophomore Sean McGrew rushed for an astounding 372 yards and 6
touchdowns and has established himself among the elite running backs in the
class of 2016. McGrew upped his season totals to over 1900 yards and 21
touchdowns, averaging above 10 yards per carry.
Alongside McGrew, the college level talent is surplus on the
Bosco roster. Athlete Jaleel Wadood has committed to UCLA, linebacker Chandler
Leniu to Washington State, defensive back Najiel Hale to Arizona, wide receiver
Shay Fields to USC, defensive end Malik Dorton to USC as the seniors already
committed to universities.
Multiple seniors headline the class of 2014 in the ESPN 300:
6’4”, 370 lb. monster offensive lineman Damien Mama at #54 (uncommitted),
defensive end Malik Dorton at #215 (USC) and athlete Jaleel Wadood at #297 (UCLA).
There isn’t much of a drop off in the junior class either.
Quarterback Josh Rosen is rated as the number one quarterback in the class of
2015 and 16thranked overall player in the nation for his graduating
class on ESPN’s recruiting rankings. Rosen has thrown for 3000 yards and 37
touchdowns along with 340 yards rushing.
Currently, Rosen holds offers from Akron, Cal, Duke, Fresno
State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon State, Tennessee, Texas, UCLA, USC, Utah,
Vanderbilt, and Virginia.
Offensive lineman Zach Robertson is also among the ESPN 300 for
2015 coming in at #248.
Line play is as equal as it gets on both sides. With the names
on St. John Bosco mentioned, De La Salle features Oregon State commit Sumner
Houston, Kahlil McKenzie (the son of Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie,
Boss Tagaloa, Larry Allen Jr. (the son of Hall of Famer Larry Allen) and Larry Ross.
Former head coach Bob Ladoucer, who racked up 399 victories in
his tenure with De La Salle, now remains in the program helping out and teaching
the lines. Justin Alumbaugh has taken over the regime, doing
tremendous job being the heir to Ladoucer, leading the Spartans to a 14-0
record and NCS along with a NorCal title.
“He’s great, Coach Alumbaugh is great,” McKenzie said. “There’s
been no drop off and nonsense.”
Stressing ball security has been of the upmost importance after
the Folsom game, as they have totaled over 30 fumbles, losing 17 of them.
Discipline will be italicized as well, and penalties and
mistakes against a team like Bosco can come back to haunt you down the stretch,
and could ultimately cost you the state championship against a southern
California program as dominant as the Braves.
“All the fumbles and penalties,” McKenzie said. “We’ve got to
work on that stuff and we were on the field too much on defense so we’ve got to
get that shaped up.”
With both ranked among the top 5 nationally, this is the most
hyped about state championship this season, and the most since the state bowl
system was implemented.
“It’s a lot of excitement, I’m really excited
about it,” said junior lineman Kahlil McKenzie. “Show them what we’ve got and
ball out for De La Salle.”
The road to Carson featured tremendous programs, but for St.
John Bosco, it was a lot tougher. Competing in the inhuman Trinity league is a
test unlike any other. The Trinity League also contains Mater Dei, Orange
Lutheran, Santa Margarita, Serra Catholic and Servite.
Bosco stormed opponents in league play, outscoring them 212-66
during the regular season, including steamrolling Mater Dei by a combined 58-9
in two matchups, including a 34-7 romp in the Pac-5 Southern Section Championship.
Although Bosco is the toughest and fiercest test the Spartans
will face, practice will be a replica of every other weeks, and will prepare as
they do against any other opponent.
“We’re going to prepare like we do every other week,” said
McKenzie. “We’re just going to get ready for them and just go down there and hit.”
Check out the highlights below from last weeks NorCal Championship and interviews by our friends at ncaanow.com