You've heard about them, read about them, perhaps even seen them up close and personal.
The Spartans.
De La Salle is the most storied, most celebrated and most accomplished high school football team in the land in recent years, certainly on the West Coast, and it now takes its act to Sacramento for the first time next Saturday.
The Spartans of Concord (13-0) in the East Bay will take on Folsom in the first Northern California Regional Open game at Sacramento State for a shot to compete in the CIF State Open Bowl the following weekend in Carson.
Folsom (14-0) is coming off a spirited 44-18 victory over Elk Grove in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II finals at Sac State, the Bulldogs' second such crown in three years. Folsom in 2010 also won the CIF State D-II Bowl.
The Bulldogs have stormed onto the state scene in recent seasons with its vaunted spread offense, their record-setting passers and an unsung defense. Jake Browning passed for 205 yards and three touchdowns and ran for one against Elk Grove. The sophomore has passed for 4,906 yards this season, two yards shy of second place on the all-time state single-season list. Browning has 61 touchdown passes, two shy of tying the state mark, according to the Cal-Hi Sports Record Book.
De La Salle, meanwhile, has made winning an art, once peeling off a national record 151-game winning streak, more than twice the total of the previous mark. The Spartans, known for the veer offense heavy on the run but deadly with the pass and being tough and disciplined in all facets, are coming off their on-going record 21st consecutive North Coast Section D-I championship, blasting Logan of Union City 51-7.
All told, De La Salle has not lost to a NorCal foe since 1991, an amazing run of 236 games.
Folsom has three coaches that grew up and competed near De La Salle. They know the Spartans brand well.
"I went to College Park High, Jeff Badger went to Clayton Valley and Rob Lobese played and coached at Ygnatio Valley," Folsom co-coach Kris Richardson said. "The three of us grew up in the East Bay. We're very well aware of how great De La Salle is and what they're all about. It's a graet program, and we're peaking at teh right time, too. It's what you hope for - two great programs going for it."
NorCal Regionals
OPEN DIVISION
North: Folsom (14-0, 5-0) vs. De La Salle (13-0) at Sacramento State - Saturday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
South: Narbonne (14-0, 5-0) vs. Centennial (Corona) (13-1, 5-0) at Cerritos College - Saturday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
DIVISION I
North: St. Ignatius (10-3, 5-2) vs. Granite Bay (11-3, 5-0) at Sacramento State - Friday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
South: Long Beach Poly (11-3, 6-0) vs. Clovis North (12-1, 4-1) at Veterans Stadium Long Beach City College - Friday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
DIVISION II
North: Clayton Valley Charter (12-1, 5-0) vs. Oakdale (13-1, 7-0) at Lincoln High School, Stockton - Saturday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
South: Serra (12-2, 4-1) vs. Edison (13-1, 5-0) at Orange Coast College - Saturday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
DIVISION III
North: Marin Catholic (13-1, 7-0) vs. Sutter (13-0, 6-0) at Harrison Stadium, Oroville - Saturday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
South: Madison (12-1, 4-0) vs. Monrovia (12-2, 5-0) at Monrovia High School, Monrovia - Saturday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
DIVISION IV
North: McClymonds (9-3, 5-0) vs. Central Catholic (12-2, 6-0) at Lincoln High School, Stockton - Friday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
South: Santa Fe Christian (10-3, 5-0) vs. Rio Hondo Prep (12-1, 4-0) at Del Norte High School, San Diego - Friday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
- Joe Davidson
- On Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD
- On Podcast: ESPN1320.net
- On Cable: SureWestSports.com
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