It will be a battle of high-powered offenses when De La Salle and Centennial meet in Carson on Saturday for the Open Division title.
Photos by Dennis Lee/Heston Quan, Graphic by Ryan Escobar
CARSON, Calif. — It's like comparing casts at Saturday Night Live or cheesecakes at the Cheesecake Factory.
But in the long, storied history of
De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) offenses, the 2014 version might be the best.
Antoine Custer, De La Salle
Photo by Dennis Lee
The numbers are quite clear. The 679 points scored and 52.2 points per game the Spartans (13-0) have amassed this season are each No. 1 in school history, topping the 656 they scored in 2010 (14 games) and the 51.5 points they averaged in 1997 (12-0).
The average of 493 yards per game — 393 on the ground — is also believed to be a school mark.
"The line has been super-cohesive, smart and dedicated," De La Salle coach Justin Alumbaugh said. "The running backs have been very explosive. Our quarterbacks have run the offense beautifully and our receivers have caught the ball.
"But to say it's our best ever? We've got to wait and see. There's still a game to be played."
Considering they're playing high-powered
Centennial (Corona, Calif.) in the state Open Division final Saturday, De La Salle will have to match — or better — their season averages at the StubHub Center.
The Huskies (12-2) average 46.3 points and 476.2 yards per game, almost evenly divided between the pass and run. They scored 800 points in 2013 (53.3 per game, 12-3 record) and more than 700 points in 2012 (784, 12-2) and 2010 (771, 14-1) under coach Matt Logan's prolific no-huddle spread attack.
"Great athletes, well coached, great scheme," Alumbaugh said. "They're awesome. … Glad we've had two weeks to prepare for them."
Andrew Hernandez, De La Salle
Photo by Dennis Lee
Preparing to defend these Spartans can't be fun either.
The two members of their prolific running tandem,
Antoine Custer (5-foot-8, 185 pounds) and
Andrew Hernandez (5-9, 178), have put up almost identical numbers. Custer, with terrific feet, speed, moves and new-found power, has rushed 155 times for 1,679 yards (10.8 average) and 20 touchdowns.
Hernandez, a tough, straight-away runner with an excellent burst, has 131 carries for 1,632 yards and 32 touchdowns.
"I don't think we've ever had two 1,500-yard rushers in the same season," Alumbaugh said. "D.J. Williams and Kevin Simon perhaps? D.J. and Atari Callen? But I don't think so."
Both should run in college, though Custer is the bigger recruit. But he's only 5-8.
"He'll play somewhere and get a lot of time," Alumbaugh said. "Andrew really kicked it into gear after week two. He started a little tentative, but then really took off. He breaks so many tackles. He's not second-guessing himself."
Custer, a happy-go-lucky-sort, has been chomping at the bit this week after a high ankle sprain kept him out of all but a few plays in last year's 20-14 Open Division title loss to St. John Bosco-Bellflower.
"He's got an edge this week," Alumbaugh said.
The offensive line has played with an edge all season and has been the team's strength. They are led by third-year starting guard
Drew Sullivan (6-4, 315), who has an offer from Cal.
Drew Sullivan, De La Salle
Photo by Susan Lehner
"It's been a great group, but Kevin has played at the highest level," Alumbaugh said. "He's been a bulldozer and he's our team captain."
On the left side, tackle
Boss Tagaloa (6-3, 290) and
Damon Wiley (6-0, 230) start,
Matt Medeiros (6-0, 235) is a third-year varsity center and
Blake Ogburn (6-3, 233) holds down the right tackle.
Devin Asiasi (6-5, 265), considered one of the top juniors in the country, and
Sam Phillips (6-3, 200) swap time at tight end.
"Tagaloa is one of the only freshmen ever to play on varsity," Alumbaugh said. "Wiley is starting both ways and he really moves well. Medeiros is the glue and makes line calls, Ogburn is a really athletic kid who moves well to help with the veer, Asiasi is a freak athlete and Sam is really a special hybrid player with excellent speed."
Asiasi is a four-star recruit.
"If there's a more talented tight end/defensive end in his class in the country, I'd like to see him," said Alumbaugh.
Because Tagaloa, Asiasi and Wiley, all juniors, start on defense, Alumbaugh rotates in
Mitchell Olinger (6-6, 207),
Cameron Lissarrague (6-2, 226),
Mason Behiel (5-8, 180),
Jacob Leyman (6-2, 230) and
Mark Guelld (6-0, 220).
"They're all contributing and meshing well," Alumbaugh said. "It's a really good group."
Maybe even, De La Salle's best.
